Executiv
This report and appendix provides the explanation of the evaluation process , an outline of findings and recommendations for the Light Pollution Study ( Study ) for Dobbins Air Reserve Base ( ARB ). As part of this Study , this report evaluated and analyzed land use within unincorporated Cobb County and within the cities of Marietta and Smyrna to determine where lighting encroachments exist and where encroachment risks could occur regarding light pollution adjacent to and near Dobbins ARB . The U . S . Air Force Reserve and the Georgia National Guard utilize Dobbins ARB for nighttime flight missions including training and deployment , making the installation an important asset for U . S . Armed Forces readiness . Using the methodology designed for this Study , recommendations were designed to mitigate any further increased light pollution within the Light Military Compatibility Area ( Light MCA ) – the area defined most critical for nighttime lighting during development of the 2015 Dobbins ARB Joint Land Use Study ( JLUS ), and to protect the land adjacent and proximate to Dobbins ARB from light pollution and glare that would render the flying missions ineffective for producing military readiness for airmen and guardsmen . During development of the Dobbins ARB JLUS , it was noted that flight training missions using night vision goggles ( NVG ) were already being performed at Fort Benning , approximately 100 miles southwest of Dobbins ARB , due to the degraded nighttime ambient lighting conditions surrounding Dobbins ARB .
Methodology
The methodology for the Study was designed to pollution near Dobbins ARB within the Light MC recommendations for Cobb County and the citi implement and enhance current lighting regula included an evaluation of existing policies and r effectiveness for controlling light pollution . Thi enhancement of policies and regulations were d further degradation of the night sky to ensure D nighttime training missions . Any increases in lig render NVG and nighttime training ineffective a implementation of enhanced light mitigating to the goal is to ensure that the military can condu providing tools for the communities to continue
The Project Team evaluated existing practices o across the country and provided an overview of regulations that states and local governments h protect important military operations but also t natural environment .
Additionally , the Project Team evaluated light p Light MCA . The Project Team used 2017 Visible Radiometer Suite ( VIIRS ) data from the Earth Ob part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric A National Centers for Environmental Information the ambient night lighting surrounding Dobbins as published by NOAA , were filtered to exclude
March 2018 DRAFT Dobbins Air Reserve Base Light Pollution Study