Lessons from Brno’s Groundbreaking Darkness Experiment
Artificial Light at Night (ALAN) is an escalating environmental challenge, disrupting ecosystems, human health, and our connection to the night sky.
At ALAN.lighting, we’re at the forefront of innovative solutions with our ALANIS platform and ALANISATOR prototype—tools designed to precisely monitor and mitigate light pollution. Drawing from cutting-edge research in the Czech Republic, particularly the iconic “Darkness in Brno” experiment, we explore how these insights validate the commercial potential of our technology for cities, researchers, and environmental advocates worldwide.
Challenge
In April 2021, Brno—the second-largest city in the Czech Republic—made headlines by switching off its entire public lighting system, encompassing over 43,000 luminaires, for a pioneering experiment. Organized by the Institute of Power Engineering (UEEN) at Brno University of Technology (VUT), in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment (MŽP) and local astronomers, this event aimed to quantify the impact of urban lighting on light pollution. Follow-up measurements during Earth Hour 2022 and an autumn trial with all lights on (including full moonlight) provided comprehensive data, using advanced luminance analyzers like the LDA-LumiDISP and aerial imaging by TopGis to create detailed nocturnal maps.
Story
Measurement
Key scientific findings from the experiment underscore the urgency of ALAN monitoring: Artificial light disrupts biological clocks in humans and wildlife, harms urban trees (e.g., from excessive holiday lighting), and wastes energy—equivalent to powering electric vehicles for thousands of kilometers annually. Spectral analyses highlighted how cooler color temperatures (CCT) exacerbate these effects, aligning with MŽP methodologies for measuring spectral properties and correlated color temperature in outdoor lighting. The U500 parameter, which quantifies the blue light component (<500 nm), emerged as critical for regulatory limits in protected zones, emphasizing health risks like melatonin suppression and ecological imbalances.
Presentation
Public opinion in the Czech Republic has shifted dramatically, with widespread media coverage fueling awareness. Outlets like Czech Television (ČT), Czech Radio Brno, and newspapers such as Brněnský deník portrayed the experiment as a wake-up call, debunking myths that more light equals better safety while highlighting benefits like star visibility in urban areas. Reactions from authorities, including MŽP workshops and interdisciplinary conferences like “Light, Darkness, Life,” reflect growing regulatory momentum—echoing EU Green Week discussions on light pollution. Citizens and experts alike expressed enthusiasm, with astronomers noting improved night sky observations and environmentalists advocating for smarter urban planning.
Analyses
This context perfectly illustrates the commercial hypothesis behind ALANIS and ALANISATOR: Our GIS-integrated platform aggregates real-time data from sources like Light Pollution Map, World Atlas, enabling precise identification of pollution hotspots—far beyond traditional SQM meters. The ALANISATOR hardware, with its panoramic spectral analysis, empowers crowdsourced measurements via our rental service, making advanced monitoring accessible. Potential users span municipalities (for compliant public lighting upgrades), energy firms (e.g., ČEZ for efficiency audits), ecological organizations (like DarkSky reserves), architects (for “dark-friendly” designs), and citizen scientists (via affordable rentals). In a market driven by EU regulations and national funds like the Czech Modernization Fund, our technology offers scalable solutions for reducing blue light emissions, optimizing energy use, and preserving biodiversity—proving its viability for licenses, spin-offs, or data-as-a-service models.
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As light pollution surges globally (up 100% in the Czech Republic since 1990), initiatives like Brno’s experiment validate tools like ours. Join us at ALAN.lighting to explore ALANIS—rent an ALANISATOR today and contribute to a darker, healthier night sky! For more on our proof-of-concept journey, check our updates from VUT collaborations.
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