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Draft:List of file formats for luminaire radiometric data

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This list article lists file formats for luminaire radiometric data. File formats from standards organizations are grouped in Table 1 and other formats are described in Table 2.

Computer files using these formats are designed to be imported into lighting simulation software for architectural lighting design, and are not readily interpreted by human readers.[1] They typically contain data describing the light output of luminaires (i.e., light fixtures), but can also represent the lamps (i.e., light bulbs) and other kinds of light sources used within luminaires.

Some formats were only designed to describe visible radiation (i.e., light), but can be adapted to describe ultraviolet radiation or infrared radiation if the file is appropriately annotated and the user understands the deviation.[2][3] Other formats were explicitly designed to describe any kind of optical radiation (ultraviolet, visible, and/or infrared) to support the design and analysis of systems for germicidal, horticulture, lighting, heating, and other applications.[4][5]

Whereas photometry entails the measurement of visible radiation (typically weighted by wavelength according to a luminous efficiency function), radiometry covers the measurement of electromagnetic radiation (sometimes limited to optical radiation) without regard for spectral sensitivity. Photometry is thus a kind or branch of radiometry. This page focuses on file formats that include one or more of the following kinds of radiometric data:

  • luminous intensity distribution — captures luminous intensity data in multiple directions via goniophotometer
  • radiant intensity distribution — captures radiant intensity data in multiple directions
  • spectral power distribution (SPD) — taken literally, an SPD captures the spectral distribution of radiant flux across a range of wavelengths; the term SPD can however also refer to the spectral distribution of other quantities (e.g., irradiance, radiance, radiant intensity)
  • angular spectral radiant intensity distribution (ASRID) — captures spectral radiant intensity distributions (or radiant intensity paired with SPD) in different directions

These granular data can be used to calculate aggregated metrics such as luminous flux (e.g., total lumen output), field angle, and correlated color temperature. Notably, the reverse is often impossible (e.g., typically cannot derive SPD from CCT).[6] With additional information, such as distance and angle of incidence, such distribution data can also be used to calculate illuminance (by combining Lambert's cosine law with the inverse-square law[7][8]) and other quantities.

Some formats can also contain photon intensity distribution data that capture photon intensity data in multiple directions. Formats often accommodate additional kinds of data (e.g., electrical input power, physical dimensions) useful in designing systems.

File formats listed

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Table 1. File formats from standards organizations
File format Filename extensions Editions Status Supported kinds of distribution data
CIBSE TM14 .c1s, .cc, .cib, .tml 1988[9] Archived Luminous intensity
EN 13032-1 .cen 2004, 2012[10] Active European standard, based on archived CIE 102-1993[11] Luminous intensity
IES LM-63 .ies 1986, 1991, 1995, 2002, 2019, 2025[12] Active ANSI standard Luminous intensity
IES TM-27 .spdx 2014, 2020[13] Active ANSI standard SPD
IES TM-33 .json, .xml 2018, 2023[14] Active ANSI standard Luminous intensity, photon intensity, radiant intensity, SPD, ASRID
ISO 16739-1 (IFC) .ifc, .ifcXML, .ifcZIP, .ttl, .rdf 2005, 2013, 2018, 2024[15][16] Active ISO standard Luminous intensity
UNI 11733 .json, .xml 2019,[17] 2020[18] Active Italian standard Luminous intensity, photon intensity, radiant intensity, SPD, ASRID
Table 2. File formats not from standards organizations
File format Filename extensions Editions Status Supported kinds of distribution data
ATLA S001 and S001-A .json, .xml 2018,[19] 2021[20] Open file format, basis for IES TM-33 and UNI 11733[21][22][23][24][25] Luminous intensity, photon intensity, radiant intensity, SPD, ASRID
DIALux .uld n/a Proprietary file format[26][27] Luminous intensity
EULUMDAT .exl, .ldt 1990, 1998[28][29] Open file format, de facto European standard[30][31][1][32] Luminous intensity
GLDF .gldf, .xml v1.0.rc3[33] Open file format, requires other formats for luminous intensity distribution data (via ZIP), remains in development[34] Luminous intensity, SPD
LiteStar 4D .oxl 2015[35] Open file format in XML[36] Luminous intensity, SPD
Relux .rolf n/a Proprietary file format[37] Luminous intensity

Building information modeling

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Some formats used in building information modeling (BIM) can include luminous intensity distribution data but may not specify its format. The photometry element of the Green Building XML (gbXML) schema has been left open for use with other specifications (e.g., IES LM-63, CIBSE TM14, EULUMDAT).[38] The draft Global Lighting Data Format (GLDF) similarly relies on other specifications via its photometry element.[39] In contrast, the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) allows use of its own format or another specification via its IfcLightDistributionDataSourceSelect element.[40]

Character encoding

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Character encoding can differ between file formats. For example, IES LM-63 uses ASCII encoding, while IES TM-33 uses UTF-8 encoding.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Ashdown, Ian (15 Jan 2019). "Rethinking the Photometric Data File Format". led-professional.com. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  2. ^ Jones, Nathaniel; Lynch, Paul; Hewlings, Joseph; Boyd, Justin; Seffinger, Ryan; Lister, Dan; Thomas, Renee (Sep 2021). "Simulation of COVID-19 ultraviolet disinfection using coupled ray tracing and CFD". Proceedings of the 17th IBPSA Conference. Bruges, Belgium: International Building Performance Simulation Association. p. 2764. doi:10.26868/25222708.2021.30858.
  3. ^ Grather, Michael (7 Oct 2021). "GUV Measurements – From the Lab to the Field". ies.org. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  4. ^ Ashdown, Ian (27 Oct 2020). "Ultraviolet Radiation Terminology". ies.org. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  5. ^ Tuenge, Jason; Arnold, Gabe; Axelson, Margaret; Tan, Jianchuan (Sep 2023). Radiometric Testing of Germicidal UV Products, Round 1: UV-C Towers and Whole-Room Luminaires (CALiPER Full Report). United States Department of Energy. pp. 54–55. doi:10.2172/2282860. OSTI 2282860.
  6. ^ Esposito, Tony; Houser, Kevin (2022). "Correlated color temperature is not a suitable proxy for the biological potency of light". Scientific Reports. 12: 20223. doi:10.1038/s41598-022-21755-7.
  7. ^ IES (2022). ANSI/IES LS-1-22, Lighting Science: Nomenclature And Definitions For Illuminating Engineering. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. §9.1.2, cosine law. Retrieved 15 Dec 2025.
  8. ^ CIE (2020). e-ILV, online version of CIE S 017:2020, International Lighting Vocabulary (2 ed.). Vienna: International Commission on Illumination. §17-25-104, photometric distance law. Retrieved 15 Dec 2025.
  9. ^ "CIBSE TM14, Standard file format for transfer of luminaire photometric data (1988)". cibse.org. London: Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers. 1988. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  10. ^ "EN 13032-1:2004+A1:2012, Light and lighting - Measurement and presentation of photometric data of lamps and luminaires - Part 1: Measurement and file format". standards.cencenelec.eu. Brussels, Belgium: European Committee for Standardization. 2012. Retrieved 28 Nov 2025.
  11. ^ "CIE 102-1993, Recommended File Format for Electronic Transfer of Luminaire Photometric Data". cie.co.at. Vienna: International Commission on Illumination. 1993. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  12. ^ "ANSI/IES LM-63-19(R25), Approved Method: IES Standard File Format for the Electronic Transfer of Photometric Data and Related Information". ies.org. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. 2025. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  13. ^ "ANSI/IES TM-27-20, Technical Memorandum: IES Standard Format for the Electronic Transfer of Spectral Data". ies.org. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. 2020. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  14. ^ "ANSI/IES TM-33-23, Technical Memorandum: Standard Format for the Electronic Transfer of Luminaire Optical Data". ies.org. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. 2023. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  15. ^ "ISO 16739-1:2024, Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) for data sharing in the construction and facility management industries, Part 1: Data schema". iso.org (2 ed.). Geneva: International Organization for Standardization. 2024. Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
  16. ^ "Industry Foundation Classes (IFC)". buildingSMART.org. Kings Langley: buildingSMART. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
  17. ^ "UNI 11733:2019, Light and lighting - Specifications for a photometric and spectrometric data exchange format of lighting fixtures and lamps". uni.com. Milan: UNI. 2019. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  18. ^ "EC 1-2020 UNI 11733:2019, Light and lighting - Specifications for a photometric and spectrometric data exchange format of lighting fixtures and lamps". uni.com. Milan: UNI. 2020. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  19. ^ ATLA S001, Standard Format for the Electronic Transfer of Luminaire Optical Data, Revision 1.00 (PDF). All Things Lighting Association. 4 Sep 2018. ISBN 978-1-7781056-0-9. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  20. ^ ATLA S001-A, Amendment to Standard Format for the Electronic Transfer of Luminaire Optical Data, Including JSON Specification, Revision 1.02 (PDF). All Things Lighting Association. 22 Sep 2021. ISBN 978-1-7781056-1-6. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  21. ^ "IES TM-33-18 Errata" (PDF). ies.org. New York: Illuminating Engineering Society. 25 Jan 2019. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  22. ^ "Lighting Standards and White Papers". AllThingsLighting.org. Victoria, BC Canada: All Things Lighting Association. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  23. ^ "ATLA S001 Interpretation Notices". AllThingsLighting.org. Victoria, BC Canada: All Things Lighting Association. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  24. ^ "New Industry Association: ATLA – Illuminating the Complicated". inside.lighting. Inside Lighting. 31 Jan 2022. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  25. ^ Shiller, David (8 Feb 2022). "New International Lighting Non-Profit Founded In Canada". LightNowBlog.com. LightNOW. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  26. ^ "Get support for DIALux evo: Creating ULD files". community.dialux.com. 2022. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  27. ^ "ULD Service: How do I get all the important luminaire data into one file?". business.dialux.com. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  28. ^ "EULUMDAT File Format Specification". Archived from the original on 17 Jul 2019.
  29. ^ "EULUMDAT File Format". agi32.com. Retrieved 21 Nov 2025.
  30. ^ Niall, Keith K. (2010). Niall, Keith K. (ed.). Vision and Displays for Military and Security Applications: The Advanced Deployable Day/Night Simulation Project. New York: Springer Science+Business Media. p. 55. doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1723-2. ISBN 978-1-4419-1722-5.
  31. ^ Jafrancesco, David; Mercatelli, Luca; Fontani, Daniela; Sansoni, Paola (2017), "Optical CAD Utilization for the Design and Testing of a LED Streetlamp", Materials, 10 (9): 985, Bibcode:2017Mate...10..985J, doi:10.3390/ma10090985, PMC 5615640, PMID 28837098
  32. ^ "Talking Photometry: Understanding Photometric Data Formats". PhotometricTesting.co.uk. Bedfordshire: Photometric & Optical Testing Services LLP. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  33. ^ "GLDF Release v1.0.rc3". gldf.io. DIAL GmbH & RELUX Informatik AG. 23 Jun 2023. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  34. ^ "Global Lighting Data Format". gldf.io. DIAL GmbH & RELUX Informatik AG. Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
  35. ^ "LITESTAR 4D v. 3.00, OXL File Specifications" (PDF). OxyTech.it. Mar 2015. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  36. ^ "OXL ... simplify your work!". OxyTech.it. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  37. ^ "ReluxPIM". relux.com. Retrieved 22 Nov 2025.
  38. ^ "XML Schema Documentation". gbXML.org. San Rafael, CA: Green Building XML Schema, Inc. May 2025. Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
  39. ^ "Photometries". gldf.io. DIAL GmbH & RELUX Informatik AG. Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
  40. ^ "Contents". buildingSMART.org. buildingSMART. Retrieved 23 Nov 2025.
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