Campus' Lighting Influence on Safety: Perceptions and Reality

Abstract

Are our students safe on campus? Which time of day is safest to walk on campus? Should students schedule their classes around daylight hours? Over the last few years Iowa State University's Facility Planning and Management's team has transitioned many of their street light bulbs from florescent to LED. I wanted to ensure that this step was enough to guarantee the safety of students crossing campus at night. This study aimed to understand if campus lighting was effectively lighting the common paths taken by students, and if lack of lighting caused criminal activity to gravitate towards certain areas. By comparing the existing lighting infrastructure provided by ISU FPM's team and the most recent five years of offenses provided by ISU's Police Department it can be determined that the presence of light does not drastically effect the location of committed offenses. In a similar study by the US Department of Justice, it was also determined that street lights did not deter crime. The limitations of this study related to crime are reliant on streetlights. To elevate this study, lighting models at ground level could be used. Window or door trim lights could be pursued. There are many other lighting options to be studied in regards to public safety and crime deterrence.