Let's take back the night sky
Celeste – Public Lighting Fixture for Light Pollution Prevention.
Sustainable Lighting International Conference
October 10 & 11, 2025
University of Aveiro, Portugal
Light that pollutes
With the expansion of illuminated areas, the impacts caused by excessive and improper use of artificial light are increasing. This image represents the spread of artificial light from urban areas to rural regions, where its effects are depicted.
Light pollution
Light pollution can be defined as the artificial alteration of outdoor light levels compared to naturally occurring levels. It encompasses the negative effects of light on biodiversity, human well-being and safety, night sky observation, and energy waste.
Dark Sky network
Since 2007, the Dark Sky® Association has been developing a sustainability strategy that combines the protection of the night sky with the development of astrotourism destinations. Dark Sky® destinations demonstrate that it is possible to promote economic development and reduce light pollution at the same time, resulting in high cultural, human health and environmental benefits.
The Five Principles of DarkSky International
DarkSky and the Illuminating Engineering Society have jointly presented the five principles for responsible outdoor lighting. In this project, these five principles were applied to ensure proper light pollution prevention.
Celeste – Public Lighting Fixture for Light Pollution Prevention.
Design proposal for a streetlight that minimizes light pollution through intelligent light control, illuminating only what is necessary and preventing excessive reflections.
Our publications
Conference papers
Design of smart led streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution
Figueiredo, D., Noronha, E., & Dias-de-Oliveira, J. (2024). Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution. In Félix, M. J., Pombo, F., Moreira da Silva, F., Cruz, P., & Almendra, R. A. (Eds.), Design Commit – 1st International Conference on Design & Industry 2024: Book of Abstracts (1st ed.). UA Editora. https://doi.org/10.48528/pvy2-ww14-41
Modular design of public lighting system for light pollution prevention: Product architecture applied to a streetlight
Figueiredo, D., Noronha, E., & Dias-De-Oliveira, J. (2024). Modular design of public lighting system for light pollution prevention: Product architecture applied to a streetlight. Em A. Braga, E. Vanzeler, E. Oliveira, M. Balsinha, N. Viola, R. Carreira, V. Agostinho, F. Providência, H. Barbosa, & J. Quental (Eds.), UD24: Unfolding Design Boundaries (pp. 240–247). UA Editora. https://doi.org/10.48528/tth3-vc15
Book chapters
Mitigating light pollution in Aldeias do Xisto as a contribution to the creation of a dark sky territory
Noronha, E., Figueiredo, D., & Dias-de-Oliveira João. (2023). Mitigação da poluição luminosa nas Aldeias do Xisto como contributo para a afirmação de um território dark sky. Em F. Pombo (Ed.), Design for Ecosystem Ideas: Transition to a Sustainable Future (1.a ed., pp. 32–51). UA Editora. https://doi.org/10.48528/5nvj-h928
Thesis
Light pollution prevention: design of a public streetlight fixture
Figueiredo, D. (2023). Light pollution prevention: design of a public streetlight fixture [master’s thesis, University of Aveiro]. http://hdl.handle.net/10773/42198
Conference abstracts
Modular design of public lighting system for light pollution prevention — Product architecture applied to a streetlight
Figueiredo, David; Noronha, Eduardo; Dias-de-Oliveira, João. "Modular design of public lighting system for light pollution prevention — Product architecture applied to a streetlight". In UD24: desdobramento das fronteiras do design. 11º Encontro de doutoramentos em design, Aveiro, 2024.
Modular product architecture applied to an LED streetlight luminaire - Public streetlighting design for light pollution prevention
Figueiredo, David; Dias-de-Oliveira, João; Noronha, Eduardo. "Modular product architecture applied to an LED streetlight luminaire - Public streetlighting design for light pollution prevention". In TEchMA2024 – 7th International Conference on Technologies for the Wellbeing and Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions, Aveiro, 2024.
Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution
Figueiredo, David; Noronha, Eduardo; Dias-de-Oliveira, João. "Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution". In DESIGN COMMIT 2024 - 1st International Conference on Design and Industry, Braga, 2024.
Developing public lighting solutions for light pollution reduction - A case study on Portuguese territory
Figueiredo, David; Dias-de-Oliveira, João; Noronha, Eduardo. "Developing public lighting solutions for light pollution reduction - A case study on Portuguese territory". In TEchMA2023 – 6th International Conference on Technologies for the Wellbeing and Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions, Aveiro, 2023.
Conference presentations
Developing public lighting solutions for light pollution reduction - A case study on portuguese territory
Conference: TEchMA2023 – 6th International Conference on Technologies for the Wellbeing and Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions
Title: Developing public lighting solutions for light pollution reduction - A case study on portuguese territory
Date: 2023/05/25
Local: Aveiro, Portugal
Modular product architecture applied to an LED streetlight luminaire - Public streetlighting design for light pollution prevention
Conference: TEchMA2024 – 7th International Conference on Technologies for the Wellbeing and Sustainable Manufacturing Solutions
Title: Modular product architecture applied to an LED streetlight luminaire - Public streetlighting design for light pollution prevention
Date: 2024/06/07
Local Aveiro, Portugal
Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution
Conference: DESIGN COMMIT 2024 - 1st International Conference on Design and Industry
Title: Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution
Date: 2024/05/22
Local: Braga, Portugal
Modular design of public lighting system for light pollution prevention — Product architecture applied to a streetlight
Conference: UD24: desdobramento das fronteiras do design. 11º Encontro de doutoramentos em design
Title: Modular design of public lighting system for light pollution prevention — Product architecture applied to a streetlight
Date: 2024/07/06
Local: Aveiro, Portugal
Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution
Conference: Dark Sky Reserve Certification through Adaptable Lighting Design – Lighting Project Applied to a Rural Portuguese Territory
Title: Design of smart LED streetlight luminaire for the mitigation of light pollution
Date: 2024/10/21
Local: Kongsberg, Norway
This work is supported by the Celeste project – a public lighting fixture for light pollution prevention, funded by the “la Caixa” Foundation under the “Promove. The Future of the Interior” program.
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