Validation of Spectral Light Simulation Tools: Dataset of Simulated and Measured Indoor Light Exposure

Since the discovery of a new photoreceptor in our eye, and with the growing awareness about the related ipRGC-influenced light (IIL) responses, design applications related to these responses are flourishing. Optimizing our ocular light exposure in buildings can have beneficial effects on our health, well-being, and performance through the action of this photoreceptor. To compare different design options and optimize the lighting conditions for building occupants, lighting simulations are typically used. However, as our IIL responses depend on various aspects of the light exposure including its spectral characteristics, spectral simulations are required. The dataset shared here was originally collected to validate two spectral simulation tools, ALFA and Lark, for the study of building design in relation to occupants’ IIL responses. The validation was done by comparing the simulation outputs against actual measurements, and assessing how reliable these tools were in predicting spectral irradiance under different indoor light conditions. Data were collected in two different experimental setups, one under daylight conditions only and the other one under electric light conditions only. The experimental protocol and README files contain detailed information on how the data was collected and what data was collected.