Abstract: The traditional lighting technology is insufficient for improving the quality of tunnel light environments; hence, it is necessary to further improve the lighting theory and technology based on the coupling effect of the driver-vehicle-tunnel lighting environment. To solve the critical scientific problem of the nonequivalent characteristics of the tunnel lighting load and the biological perception effect during tunnel operation, the authors propose a construction concept of equivalent lighting for tunnel lighting environments. Subsequently, from the perspective of reasonable matching of lighting luminaires and sidewall materials, the equivalent lighting theory is demonstrated through simulation experiments, real vehicle experiments, and theoretical calculations. Finally, the theoretical research framework of equivalent lighting for improving the biological perception effect and reducing the lighting environment load (one increases and the other decreases) is summarized. The results show the following: (1) Reasonable matching of physical parameters (e.g., reflection of sidewall materials and layout of the luminaire) can maximize road surface illumination by 25% and 21% and the total uniformity by 9% and 15% in the threshold and middle zones, respectively, and thus, can reduce the 〖HJ1.5mm〗number of luminaires by 33%. (2) Proper choice of physical parameters (such as spectrum and color temperature) can reduce the reaction time of the driver by up to 6% and improve the visibility of small targets by 26.2%. (3) Changes in physical parameters (such as different types of sidewall materials) can reduce the driver′s heart rate, breathing rate, fixation time, saccade range, and pupil area, while increasing the electroencephalographic power; further, the change range is smoother. (4) By further studying the equivalent action mechanism of different physical indicators on driver information perception, the tunnel lighting load can be effectively reduced, and the biological perception effect can be improved.

Key words: highway tunnel lighting, tunnel light environment, equivalent lighting theory, biological perception effect, information perception mechanism