Factors Affecting Pedestrians’ Perceptions of Safety, Comfort, and Pleasantness Induced by Public Space Lighting: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Public space lighting (PSL), if adequately designed, may significantly enhance pedestrians’ sense of safety and comfort. Yet, the accumulated knowledge about subjective evaluation of PSL is still insufficient. This paper presents a systematic literature review, carried out according to the PRISMA guidelines, of factors affecting pedestrians’ perceptions of safety, comfort, and pleasantness induced by PSL. The screening process, which focused on studies combining technical- and observer-based environmental assessments, yielded 53 eligible papers, which were then synthesized according to an adapted model for outdoor place-human relationship. This framework-based review comprehensively highlights a few common findings and practical implications, as well as multiple gaps in research coverage, many inconsistencies, and significant generalization and transferability constraints. As the review indicates, one size does not fit all, and much further research is needed to improve the tailoring of PSL to a range of contextual conditions, such as different climates, cultures, and city characteristics.