In general, the following trends have been demonstrated.
The denser the urban development, the greater the potential for light intrusion.
The closer a development is to an installation, the greater the potential for light
intrusion.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers has developed studies that indicate
light pollution has an impact on nighttime military training activities in locations
upwards of 10 miles away from the installation.
Local jurisdictions can employ lighting regulations and dark skies ordinances to reduce
the impact of light pollution. Nighttime training occurs at and around FMR, and the dark
nighttime environment is important to ensure the military can simulate real world
combat theatres.
Issue:
LG‐1
AZARNG Site: Increase in electronic billboards may impact
night training.
Entire JLUS
Project Area
As electronic billboards are used with greater
frequency in the JLUS project area, they may
negatively impact military night training
operations in the future.
Compatibility Assessment
Electronic or digital style billboards have become more readily available across the
country as the technology to support them has been made available. There are several
advantages to these types of advertising billboards, not the least of which is the relative
ease that the information presented on the billboard can be changed. In addition, the
electronic billboards provide the ability to attract the attention of the advertiser audience
with large displays that continually change color and content. A small computer is used
to change the billboard displays and cellular network technology is typically used to
connect to the billboard computer. Owners of electronic billboards can rent the use of
the advertising space to multiple advertisers, generating income well beyond that of a
traditional billboard. The lighting technology used in outdoor electronic billboards is light
emitting diode or LED, which are up 90 percent less expensive to operate than traditional
lighting while providing higher lumen outputs.
The State of Arizona regulates roadside billboards, including electronic billboards via the
State Outdoor Advertising Control Laws and Regulations. Arizona Revised Statutes (ARS),
Title 28, Chapter 23 Highway Beautification, Article 1 Advertising Regulation, provides the
requirements for outdoor advertising including highway billboards. The Arizona
Department of Transportation oversees the permitting process that helps regulate the
authorized locations, prohibitions and standards for outdoor advertising signs placed and
5-100
Compatibility Assessment