Emeritus Professor John Mardaljevic

BSc PhD

  • Professor Emeritus of Building Daylight Modelling
  • Architecture
  • Building Energy
    • Publications
    ORCiD Google Scholar
    John Mardaljevic

    Research and expertise

    I have been at the forefront of applied daylighting research for over 25 years. After carrying out the definitive daylight validation study on the Radiance lighting simulation system (the mid-1990s), I pioneered what became known as Climate-Based Daylight Modelling (CBDM) — a simulation technique now firmly established as the basis for research and industry practice worldwide.

    My practice-based research and consultancy includes landmark projects such as: ‘Daylighting the New York Times Building’; ‘Central Park Tower daylight injury evaluation’ (also New York); and, acting as Expert Witness in notable rights to light cases, e.g. the Chelsea Football Stadium development. I served as the 'UK Principal Expert on Daylight' for the European Committee for Standardisation (2011-2019), and devised the formulation of the daylight performance basis of EN 17037: 2018 – Daylight in buildings. The standard has been adopted by all 34 CEN member states. In 2012 I was presented the annual UK lighting award by the Society for Light and Lighting. I was Associate Director for Daylighting CIE Division 3, and CIE-UK D3 Representative between 2012-19. In 2017 I received the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) Innovative Application Award. In addition to simulation, I have devised novel camera-based measurement techniques to quantify daylight illumination fields for conservation purposes in heritage settings. 

    Current research activity

    The further refinement and dissemination of Aperture-Based Daylight Modelling – the ‘missing link’ between planning and performance for daylight/sunlight.

    Recent publications

    • E. Brembilla, N. Drosou, and J. Mardaljevic. Assessing daylight performance in use: A comparison between long-term daylight measurements and simulations. Energy and Buildings, 262:111989, 2022.
    • J. Mardaljevic, S. Cannon-Brookes, N. Blades, and K. Lithgow. Reconstruction of cumulative daylight illumination fields from high dynamic range imaging: Theory, deployment and in-situ validation. Lighting Research & Technology, 53(4):311–331, 2021.
    • J. Mardaljevic. The implementation of natural lighting for human health from a planning perspective. Lighting Research & Technology, 53(5):489–513, 2021.
    • J. Mardaljevic, E. Brembilla, S. Cannon-Brookes, and N. Blades. A hybrid measurement-simulation approach to determine the reflectance map of a historic tapestry. IBPSA - Building Simulation Conference, Bruges, Belgium, 2021.
    • J. Mardaljevic. Aperture-Based Daylight Modelling: A New Approach for Daylight and Sunlight Planning. CIBSE Technical Symposium, Virtual, 14-15 September 2020.
    • E. Brembilla, C. Hopfe, J. Mardaljevic, A. Mylona, and E. Mantesi. Balancing daylight and overheating in low-energy design using cibse improved weather files. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 41(2):210–224, 2020.
    • N. Blades, J. Mardaljevic, K. Lithgow, S. Cannon-Brookes, L. O’Hagan, and S. McGrady. Improved daylight management of historic showrooms: A methodology based on detailed recording and analysis. Studies in Conservation, 65(sup1):18–24, 2020.
    All publications

    Profile

    I graduated in 1982 from Leicester University with a degree in Physics. In my first year after graduation, I worked as a Research Assistant with the X-Ray Astronomy Group at Leicester. I then taught A-Level physics at Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College, Leicester from 1985 to 1990, whilst at the same time completing a part-time MPhil in Astrophysics (Models of Emission Line Profiles in Active Galaxies, 1988).

    In 1990 I began as a Research Assistant at De Montfort University (Leicester) and so commenced my interest in daylight modelling. Between 1993 and 1996 I was employed by Aberdeen University Dept of Zoology working as a Research Assistant on the modelling of marine ecosystems. I returned to Leicester and De Monfort University in 1996 where I was employed as a Research Fellow (1996-2000), Senior Research Fellow (2000-2009) and finally Reader in Daylight Modelling (2009-2012). In 2012 I joined º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in the newly-created post ‘Professor of Building Daylight Modelling’, and was made Emeritus Professor on retirement in 2021. 

    Professional affiliations

    • Fellow of the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA), 2017. 
    • Fellow of the Society of Light and Lighting (SLL), 2012.

    Awards

    • Dufton Silver Medal – CIBSE, 2022.
    • Innovative Application Award – International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA), 2017. 
    • Leon Gaster Award – Society of Light and Lighting (SLL), 2016. 
    • UK Lighting Award – Society of Light and Lighting, 2012.

    External activities

    • UK Principal Expert, European Committee for Standardisation CEN/TC 169 WG11 (2011-2019). 
    • Chair, CIBSE Daylight Group.
    • Associate Editor, Lighting Research & Technology Journal.  
    • Editorial Panel, Energy & Buildings Journal.