Middle East Electricity to showcase the leaders from the global lighting industry

“Driven by increasingly sophisticated expectations, the new generation of commercial complexes that are appearing across the Middle East require innovative approaches and solutions to commercial, residential and industrial lighting projects,” said Sarah Woodbridge, Group Director Exhibitions, IIR Middle East - organisers of the event.

“The Middle East continues to demonstrate unparalleled levels of growth in the construction sector - this is clear to see from the countless new projects and developments that are both in development and being planned. The committed investment is staggering, with the UAE alone accounting for some US$221 billion with a further US$130 in the planning stages,” she added. “Lighting has an essential role to play, contributing artistically and technologically to the overall aesthetics of projects, and is now one of the key design considerations.”

As a result, Lighting at Middle East Electricity, one of the world’s most respected and influential events for the industry, will feature over 300 lighting related companies, cover over 4,500 square metres and welcome over 15,000 visitors, making it the largest showcase of local and international lighting expertise ever seen in the region.

The longest-running exhibition of its kind in the region, it is rated as the essential, comprehensive showcase for the industrial, commercial and residential lighting sectors. Key supporters of the event include The Lighting Association, The Society of Light and Lighting, The Lighting Council of Australia, IALD and dpa Lighting Consultants.

This year sees the event further strengthening its leading position with the addition of a series of lighting masterclasses, the only series of independent, non-commercial, educational seminar sessions in the region. Developed specifically to inspire professionals and expose them to experts that are at the cutting edge of the profession, they will present and encourage debate of the very latest developments in the field of Light and Lighting Design.

The prestigious team of master class presenters includes experts from Europe, the USA and Australia, all of whom are internationally renowned for the experience and expertise they have in their respective fields – they will be joined by local professionals to debate and discuss future trends and technologies for the region.

“This is the first opportunity for lighting and design professionals to hear first hand, in Dubai, from international experts who have successfully researched, implemented and assessed the latest technologies and design practices available to the lighting professional,” added Woodbridge.

Amongst the topics to be featured are “Lighting the Future of Abu Dhabi”, a presentation by Alain Guilhot, Chairman of Architecture Lumiere and one of the world’s foremost lighting design, planning, engineering and management specialists. He founded the world-renowned Lyon Festival of Light, was lighting designer for the Eiffel Tower and the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpar and has designed and planned lighting for cities and projects in Cannes, Rabat, Saint Petersburg, Doha and Ho Chi Minh City. He is also the originator of the new nocturnal signature of cities worldwide.

Other masterclasses will assess the latest technologies in lamp, ballast and LED technologies, discuss the challenges involved in creating landscape continuity and look at the possible applications to Dubai’s environment and cover light pollution and trespass, examining ways in which to ensure the integrity of night skies across the region. Currently a major topic of international interest and concern, the link between light and lighting and our health and well-being will also be examined.

“A whole new interest in environmentally friendly lighting is developing under the broad description of “Dark Sky Lighting” or showing appreciation for tackling the increase in glare and light trespass causing discomfort in a wide range of situations,” said another of the presenters, Reg Wilson, Principal, Lighting Analysis & Design, Australia. Lighting consultant to the City of Sydney, he has over 30 years experience in the lighting industry, in both the technical and commercial sectors with design and application experience in street lighting, industrial, airport and mining are as well as commercial applications.

“Originally this interest stemmed from promotional activities by the astronomical profession whose observations were being restricted by excessive sky glow, but now the applications are increasingly being based on health and safety considerations coupled with reducing waste energy. As the lighting industry holds the prime key to achieving the target of caring for the night-time environment the necessity of understanding all of the ramifications of product design and application is a necessity. This requires a new look at both of these key subjects and appreciating the importance of education in all decision-making areas.”

“Light trespass, which can cause disturbance of the circadian rhythms (the body clock), leading to health problems is now the subject of considerable research worldwide. And humans are not the only creatures that can suffer adversely where light trespass and/or glare is a problem. Many ecological problems could be corrected with an understanding of the situation and the application of corrective lighting installations.”

The relationship between health, light and lighting will also be examined in another of the masterclasses, led by the world's leading researchers and authorities on the impact of light on human health, daily biological rhythms and mood and the newly discovered light sensory but non-visual pathways in the retina.

This is a unique opportunity for the biomedical community to come together with the lighting community to exchange information. Amongst the subjects that will be discussed aree the new medical applications of light, using light to treat mental disorders, therapeutic lighting, human circadian rhythms and light and the aging eye.

The session will be facilitated by Mariana Figueiro PhD, Programme Director, Lighting Research Centre, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and will also feature Professor Wout von Bommel, President of the International Commission on Illumination.

Thought-provoking and highly valuable to anyone involved in the specification, design and application of lighting, the Lighting at Middle East Electricity masterclasses will make an important contribution to the future of the region’s lighting industry.

Lighting at Middle East Electricity 2007 runs from 11-14 February at Dubai International Exhibition Centre.