Nitter-Betanit.com installs one of the world’s first full dome LED artificial skies at the University of Malta

The Italian company Nitter-Betanit.com has completed the installation of one of the world’s first full dome LED artificial skies at the Department of Environmental Design, University of Malta. The initiative, led by Prof. Vincent Buhagiar as part of the Advanced Lighting Design course, aims to enhance research and teaching on the environmental performance of buildings.

A state-of-the-art laboratory for lighting design

The new laboratory enables the study of the interaction between direct natural light (sun) and indirect light (sky) with architectural forms and materials — a factor increasingly central to environmental comfort, health, and energy savings.
Thanks to partial funding from the European Union, the University of Malta launched a public tender for an “artificial sky” daylight simulation system. The tender was awarded to Nitter-Betanit.com, with the local support of Advisor Joseph Paul Mizzi Abela DeCesare, fully meeting all technical requirements.

The installation

The laboratory includes:
- Durian Artificial LED Sky, a 2.8-meter full dome capable of recreating any sky condition at any latitude and longitude, with individually dimmable LEDs.
- Lemon manual heliodon, a manually orientable table for solar path simulation.
- Data acquisition equipment: lux meters and cameras.

With this setup, students and researchers can build scale models, place them under the artificial sky, and measure illuminance or observe light-shadow effects under simulated conditions (e.g., “August 15, 1:30 PM, Valletta, clear sky”). This approach allows rapid project verification, with real-time modifications to the models, reducing the time and costs associated with purely digital simulations.

International recognition

The Durian Artificial Sky has been selected and recognized by the Illuminating Engineering Society (IES) as a significant advancement in the art and science of lighting, earning a place in the 2020 Progress Report Selection.

Nitter-Betanit.com’s mission

Based in Piacenza, Nitter-Betanit.com is a family-run company that has been designing and manufacturing natural light simulators for over 20 years for universities and research centers worldwide. Clients include XJTLU Suzhou (China), NTNU Trondheim (Norway), HEPIA Geneva, UC Berkeley Singapore, Politecnico di Milano, Louisiana State University, Texas Christian University, UAEU Al Ain (UAE), UiTM Kuala Lumpur, UTP Lima, UCR San José (Costa Rica), and international firms such as Arup Lighting London.

“We are proud to have contributed to the creation of a unique laboratory, designed to train architects and designers capable of tackling the challenges of sustainability and environmental comfort.”
— Arch. Giulio Maria Podestà, Nitter-Betanit.com

A new point of reference for Malta

The laboratory will soon move to a dedicated new facility, becoming a reference point for students, researchers, and professionals. With the support of Prof. Buhagiar’s team, they will be able to test and optimize their designs. The Advanced Lighting Design course combines lectures, hands-on lab activities, and software demonstrations, promoting a scientific approach to both natural and artificial lighting design.