Creating a Lightmap

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A lightmap will visually display the performance of your light and allow for optimization for the best possible growing conditions for your specific crop. Measuring your light output in PPFD and displaying the values on a grid will show the distribution of PPFD.

Why have a Lightmap?

Depending on your needs you can create lightmaps to test a single lights performance or to test the amount of light (single or multiple lights) in your grow space.

You can use a lightmap to determine:

• True average PPFD
• Optimal light height
• Strength of your light on different settings
• Determine spots of low and high light strength
• Optimize distribution of light in your growroom

How is a Lightmap Created?

The performance of growing light can be described by collecting and processing data from the area under the light. A light (PPFD) measuring sensor is moved along a grid under the light. Light readings are taken at each point along the grid in the pattern that can be seen in Figure 1. The data is visualised using computer software.

Create your own Lightmap

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We will take you through the process of recording data into a csv file and using our lightmap generator tool to visualize your data.

Requirements

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• Light Sensor
• We recommend an Apogee Sensor, ePAR or PAR-FAR Sensor.
• However any light sensor will work as long as you can record the data.
• Light source
• Area to conduct light test
• Generally this will be your grow area or tent.

Data Recording with Light Sensor

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The basic concept for recording light data is to setup a grid under your light source and record data at every point on the grid.

Data Formatting for Lightmap Tool

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The format the data needs to be in is important.

CSV Format and Requirements

• CSV needs to be in decimal point format. (e.g 45.5 not 45,5)
• CSV needs to be in comma seperated format. (e.g value1, value2, ...)
• Light data needs to be in column form.