Abstract: With China′s increasing number and variety of traffic tunnels, the contradiction between tunnel safety, energy efficiency, and human comfort is becoming more prominent. To address this contradiction, the relationship between tunnel operation light environment and drivers should be elucidated. On this basis, the perception representation methods of tunnel dynamic light environment information are classified into visual identification ability, visual efficacy, visual load, and optical illusion according to relevant studies, and their definition, representation model, and evaluation indicators are described. The deficiencies of current research methods of perception representation of tunnel dynamic light environment information in China and abroad are elucidated, and the research progress of perception representation methods of tunnel dynamic light environment information is discussed from two aspects of driver′s gaze behavior and the "photobiological effect." Finally, it is highlighted that the combination of physical quantity and biomass should be emphasized in future research on the characterization method of dynamic light environment of highway tunnels. In addition, the influence of biomass change on the driver′s information perception should be further considered.

Key words: tunnel engineering, dynamic light environment, information perception, characterization method