Feature


Outdoo Grea The Lighting the way to Smart City Ne


The focus for smart lighting is shifting from interior to exterior and the outdoor lighting industry is ready to flick the switch. Martin Allcock, CP Electronics’ OEM Sales Manager, looks at how new technology is shaping the smart cities of tomorrow.


The proliferation of smart technology and the internet of things (IoT) has galvanized the modern home. We’re currently living in the era of the ‘smart


revolution’ and


this isn’t expected to slow down. A market report by Statista estimates that the ‘Smart Home’ market will grow at a CAGR of 13.2% between 2019-2022, and be worth US$6,768m by 2023. We’re connecting our TVs to the internet and can control our heating, washing machines and dishwashers through the tap of a screen. This technological revolution is extending


beyond the home. The ‘smart city network’ is entering the public’s consciousness - people are becoming increasingly aware of the benefits these exterior sensors and connected systems offer and are beginning to trust them. Monitoring everything from air and noise pollution


to lighting, the introduction of


‘smart city networks’ is putting sustainability, health and safety and energy efficiency at the forefront.


Taking the indoors outdoors


Neon and sodium street lamps have been used 28 fmuk


to illuminate parks, pathways and building perimeters, retail parks and warehouse bays for decades. Street lighting gives the general public a sense of security and can often act as a deterrent to criminal activity. However,


traditional street lighting is


typically left on or dimmed during the early hours of the morning when no one is around, costing in both energy and finances. In April 2019, Hampshire


County Council made


the move to switch lights off on certain residential streets for three hours a night, between 1am and 4am, equating to £230,000 of energy cost savings per year. Alongside this,


off during the darker hours brings its own security concerns.


turning street lighting There’s a risk that


crime rates may spike in the areas where lights have been switched off, and arguably, residents won’t feel as comfortable or as confident as before. Similar to their


indoor counterparts, innovative outdoor lighting


solutions


feature passive infrared sensors (PIRs) that are added to street lamps and light-up when a human enters the sensor’s radius. While the principles of outdoor and indoor lighting are similar, there are key differences. Exterior lighting has to withstand harsh elements from the outside environment, such as dust and damp. To combat this, a new breed of smart lighting technology has been developed and addresses these issues with many sensors rated as IP66 and IK08, guaranteeing class-leading protection against impact and the ingress of water and dust. Smart outdoor lighting is an excellent solution that can help curb energy usage, cut costs and help reduce safety concerns.


Connecting to multiple benefits


Outdoor solutions rely on intuitive controls that detect movement and only light-up when people are nearby. They can be added to lamps and can be


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44