Design criteria for artificial lighting in indoor shooting ranges and case studies from Turkey

This thesis investigates the current state of artificial lighting systems in indoor shooting ranges across Turkey, aiming to evaluate their performance against international standards and to propose practical and architectural solutions for improvement and future design. Given the highly visual and precision-oriented nature of shooting sports, lighting is not merely a functional requirement but a critical component of athlete performance, safety, and visual comfort. Despite this importance, a noticeable gap in architectural literature was identified regarding the lighting design of shooting ranges in Turkey. To address this deficiency, three major indoor shooting ranges were selected for field analysis based on their eligibility to host national and international competitions: Mersin Erdemli Shooting Range, Samsun Şehit Mustafa Serin Shooting Range, and Trabzon Central Shooting Range. At each site, illuminance measurements were taken at 90 cm and 140 cm heights, covering key performance indicators such as general lighting levels, target line illumination, lighting uniformity, glare risk, and color temperature consistency. The results indicate a widespread inadequacy in meeting the illumination benchmarks set by institutions such as the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). Even the best-performing facility, the Mersin Erdemli range, falls short of the 1000 lx requirement for vertical illuminance at the target line. The Samsun facility's low ceiling height exacerbates glare issues and limits the effective placement of luminaires, while the Trabzon range exhibits the most critical deficiencies in both light intensity and spatial uniformity, with dangerously low lx values. In light of these findings, the thesis presents a set of detailed architectural and technical recommendations aimed at upgrading current lighting infrastructures. These include the reconfiguration of luminaire placement, integration of high-efficiency LED systems, maintenance of consistent color temperatures across zones, and implementation of optical glare-control devices in low-ceiling environments. For future facilities, the thesis outlines a framework addressing minimum ceiling heights, target-area lighting strategies, and design criteria for ensuring compliance with international lighting standards. Ultimately, this research contributes to both academic discourse and professional practice by bridging a critical knowledge gap and offering actionable insights for enhancing lighting quality in indoor shooting sports environments. It sets a precedent for future design methodologies that prioritize athlete performance, safety, and regulatory alignment within sports architecture.