Like us on Facebook

We have added a Facebook page to our social media tool bag.  We invite you to Follow and Like us.

Suggestions as to content and format are always welcome.

Cheers, Ralph

Two New Daily Papers re: Sun Glare & Driving, and Shadow Impacts & Urban Development

We have created two daily papers via "Paper.li" containing interesting (hopefully) articles relevant to our areas of practice. The first deals with traffic safety and the dangers of sun glare while driving; the second deals with urban development and tall buildings and focuses on shadow impacts. Follow the links below:

• Sun Glare and Driving
• Sun, Shadow and Urban Development

 

Cheers, Ralph

Sunrise/Sunset Tables March 2013

Our free sunrise/sunset tables for March 2013 have been posted.  If you would like to receive one for the current month for your location, simply e-mail your request to us. Tables for past and/or future months are also available.  For more information visit:

http://www.sunposition.com/tables.html

Cheers, Ralph

Daylight Saving Time Change

For those of you in North American jurisdictions that observe Daylight Saving Time, don't forget to 'spring ahead' your clocks one hour before bedtime on Saturday night, March 9th. Official time change to Daylight Saving Time occurs at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 10th.

Cheers, Ralph

Daylight Saving Time Dates

Starting in 2007, daylight time begins in North America on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On the second Sunday in March, clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes 3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local standard time.

 

Not all places in the U.S. observe daylight time. In particular, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not use it. Indiana adopted its use beginning in 2006. In Canada, most of Saskatchewan, parts of Quebec, and Southampton Island in Nunavut do not observe daylight time.

 

Year   DST Begin    DST End

2007    March 11      November 4
2008    March 9        November 2
2009    March 8        November 1
2010    March 14      November 7
2011    March 13      November 6
2012    March 11      November 4
2013    March 10      November 3
2014    March 9        November 2
2015    March 8        November 1

Cheers, Ralph

Source: USNO and National Research Council Canada

Daylight Saving Time 2012 Ends

For those of you in North American jurisdictions that observe Daylight Saving Time, don't forget to 'fall back' your clocks one hour before bedtime on Saturday night, November 3rd. Official time change back to Standard Time occurs at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 4th.

 

At least the mornings won't be so dark anymore!

We 'spring ahead' to Daylight Time again on March 10th next year.

Cheers, Ralph

Sun Glare While Driving - Photo Examples

Photographic examples of the effects of 

sun glare while driving.

Material re-printed from our web site at 

http://www.sunposition.com/samples/sun_glare_driving.html

(all photos taken by Ralph Bouwmeester)

Notes:

•  These samples were taken with sun altitudes between 2 and 7 degrees. 
•   In these photos, the camera automatically reduced the intensity of the sun's glare.  Actual intensities were much greater, to the point of causing eye watering.
•    Note how difficult it is to see into the shadows (Figs 1 and 2).
•    Note how quickly visibility can deteriorate (Fig 2).
•    Note how road grade can change the effective height of the sun (Fig 3).
•    Note what can NOT be seen when the sun is close to one's line of sight (Fig 4).
  
  
  
  FIG 1 - Bright sun / Dark shadows
  (Sun at about 7 degrees above horizon)
  
  
  Note darkness of shadows.  

  ---

  
  FIG 2 - Sudden change in visibility conditions
  (Sun at about 6.5 degrees above horizon)
  
  
  Note darkness of shadows.  School on left, crosswalk ahead, 
  and intersecting street on right.  
  Note how relatively good visibility can deteriorate in a matter of seconds 
  (4 seconds between photos in this example).

  ---

  
  FIG 3 - Sun appears lower due to climbing road grade
  (Sun at 3.5 degree altitude (apparent height is less))
  
  
  Note how apparent height of sun is reduced by climbing road grade.

  ---

  
  FIG 4 - Sun glare obscures important objects
  (Sun at about 2 degrees above horizon)
  
  

  Note what is NOT visible in this photo...	...an approaching ambulance turning left....
  ...and a Stop Sign!!

  Cheers, Ralph