Episode 142: Tragedy of the Commons with Nick Mesler

Restoring Darkness

Nick raises a good point: We all know some lighting designers, but how many lighting planners do you know? These people think differently about the context of lighting - transportation safety, environment, and the impact on livability and the quality of life that outdoor light at night will have on us. Are we stuck with 4000k LED street lighting? Can we turn this ship around? Nick Mesler is a Director at Evari Consulting, where he takes a data-driven approach to achieving positive street lighting design, livable communities, and active transportation outcomes. Nick considers himself a “plangineer” and prides himself in understanding both the big picture forethought and honest realities of implementation necessary to bring successful projects to life. Nick specializes in transportation safety, with a background in mobility planning and transportation operations. Nick has worked on large street lighting projects across the United States. Nick is a registered Civil Engineering PE in Oregon and Washington and a registered Traffic Engineer in California. He frequently presents and participates in events through the Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE), Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), and the Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle Professionals (APBP). He is a member of the IES Outdoor Nighttime Environment Committee and the IES Roadway Lighting Committee. Nick is regarded as an authority on lighting for transportation safety.