Systematic Review of Extended Reality for Smart Built Environments Lighting Design Simulations

TL;DR

The paper surveys the intersection of extended reality and smart built-environment lighting design through a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review of 270 publications (1968–2023). It characterizes the state-of-the-art lighting simulation tools, analyzes XR modalities (VR/AR/MR) for lighting modeling, and aggregates evidence on how lighting influences human mood, health, and performance. Key contributions include mapping historical and modeling paradigms, detailing XR-specific lighting workflows, and outlining evaluation frameworks and gaps for standardization and cross-disciplinary adoption. The findings highlight substantial opportunities for faster design iterations, improved user-centric lighting, and energy efficiency, while underscoring challenges in cost, privacy, data quality, and the need for robust validation protocols.

Abstract

This systematic literature review paper explores the use of extended reality {(XR)} technology for smart built environments and particularly for smart lighting systems design. Smart lighting is a novel concept that has emerged over a decade now and is being used and tested in commercial and industrial built environments. We used PRISMA methodology to review 270 research papers published from 1968 to 2023. Following a discussion of historical advances and key modeling techniques, a description of lighting simulation in the context of extended reality and smart built environment is given, followed by a discussion of the current trends and challenges.

Figures (3)

• Figure 1: Flowchart demonstrating method of screening phases.
• Figure 2: Lighting simulation tools publications (65).
• Figure 3: Publication timeline (270).