The present book is based on the experience of the author. The experience is mainly the result of years of research, of consulting work, and in participation in policy decision making in many felds, most, but not all, related to outdoor lighting. To some degree, the book represents the preference of the author. The selection of the subjects is based on more than 50 years of experience of what is desirable to know for persons engaged in scientifc research or practical application in the felds of lighting and vision. The subjects deal with a number of fundamental aspects. The theorists must have them at their fngertips, whereas the practical engineers may assume them as known in their daily work. The selection of subjects is based in part by the questions that came to the author over the years, but even more by the preference of the author himself. In this respect, it is a personal book. Thus, it should be stressed that the book is not a ‘handbook’ or even a ‘textbook’; many subjects that commonly are treated in such books are not included here. Not because they lack importance, but because the author feels that they are adequately treated elsewhere. Some relevant works are mentioned in the References. Over the years, the author has been engaged in giving courses on vision and lighting, lately more in particular on Masterclasses on a post-graduate or post-doctorate level.

Born 1931 in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Duco Schreuder received his doctorate in 1964 at Eindhoven Technical University ("The lighting of vehicular traffic tunnels") and extended this with an MA in Philosophy (specialization psychology) at Haarlem International Institute in 1972.

Combining this unique overview of light studies and the human consequences of light technology he has extensive experience working with Lighting Laboratories, Philips, Eindhoven on research in vision and in lighting for roads, tunnels and vehicles.

From 1968 - 1993 he was a senior researcher with the Institute for Road Safety Research SWOV in Leidschendam in charge of the field of lighting and vision (signs, signals, road and vehicle lighting). Since 1993 he has worked as an independent consultant in the general fields of lighting and safety, studies on the theory of road accidents, road safety in developing countries, transport lighting, tunnel lighting, influence of weather and environment on road accidents, social safety and lighting, crime and lighting, traffic lights and signals, road markings, lighting and astronomy, environmental impact of lighting.

He is the author and coauthor of several books and well over 300 scientific publications, mainly on traffic, lighting, vision, road safety and related areas.

He has held Chairmanship of a large number of national and international institutions and working groups, particularly in the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage CIE, in the Centre Europenne de Normalisation CEN and in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development OECD on areas of road and tunnel lighting, vehicle lighting, signing and signalling in road traffic, road accidents and road safety, public safety and light pollution.

He is an internationally recognised expert in these fields.