Photo-realistic graphics for emergency lighting visualisation

In an emergency situation it is vital that people are rapidly able to identify the exits. This is particularly important when the visibility of the signs can be significantly reduced, for example in a smoke filled room. There are several factors which contribute to a sign´s visibility: the colour of the sign, luminance, size of letters, the location of the sign in the room and of course how engulfed the room is with smoke. It is also important to determine the visibility in clear and dark conditions. This paper describes a visualization system under development which uses photo-realistic computer graphics techniques and parallel processing to provide an interactive tool for emergency lighting designers. The system will enable designers to investigate different positioning and illumination of emergency lighting under a variety of environmental conditions.