This thesis examines the basis of professional practice involved in providing controlled distributions of artificial lighting to provide for the broad range of human activities conducted within buildings, and makes proposals for a new methodology. Current practice for specifying lighting requirements based on task performance is examined, and shortcomings are identified. Proposals that have been advanced for alternative forms of specification are reviewed, including those initiated by the candidate in the five publications that form the major part of this thesis. In these publications, the candidate proposes a basis for general lighting practice based on how lighting may influence the appearance of indoor spaces and their contents. Lighting metrics relating to peoples’ responses to the appearance of the lit environment are introduced, and application procedures that may incorporate lighting design objectives based on task performance are discussed. It is recorded that the candidate’s publications have aroused interest among the lighting profession, as well as having stimulated research investigations, notably at DIT. The findings from these investigations are evaluated, and it is concluded that while they generally support the candidate’s proposals, more research is needed to justify their adoption for general lighting practice, particularly as adoption would involve substantial changes from current practice. Specific recommendations for ongoing research are identified, and it is noted that such research is currently in hand at DIT
