A study on the computer programmes used in lighting design

In this study, generally, the features of the computer programmes which are used in lighting design are taken into consideration, the studies of International Lighting Commttee (CIE, Commission Internationale de L?Eclairage, 1913), about that domain are mentioned, a group of tests with programmes are made and the results are compared. The study can be classified into 4 groups as, ? Lighting Design, ? Lighting Orientated Computer Programmes, ? CIE Tests ? The Test Made with Lighting Programmes. In the Lighting Design division, the stages of lighting installation and the methods of the ligting desing presentations are analyzed. In the Lighting Orientated Computer Programmes division, the methods about light simulation are described, examples are given. The features of DIALux 4.3, Relux 2007, Desktop Radiance Beta 2.0, Lightscape R3.2 and their methods are introduced. In the CIE Tests division, CIE test cases to asses the accuracy of lighting programmes are analyzed, the results of the tests which are proposed by CIE from DIALux 2006, Lightscape R3.2, Relux 2004 programmes are given. In the Test Made with Lighting Programmes division, a group of tests about artificial lighting, daylighting and features of surface and light source are made with DIALux 4.3, Relux 2007, Desktop Radiance Beta 2.0, Lightscape R3.2 programmes. For specific test conditions, artificial an daylight tests are made with analytical computations, analytical results and programmes? results are compared. Keywords: Lighting design, computer programmes, CIE tests, thesis tests.