INSTRUMENTATION • ELECTRONICS BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CITY
When deployed with sufficient density, such networks will have multiple paths back from the end- device to the backhaul network.. If the usual route is blocked, the end-device should have plenty of other pathways available, thereby providing redundancy. Such a system gets stronger as the size and density of the network increases. Open-source standards enable
multi-vendor interoperability meaning cities are not locked into a single vendor when expanding.
Upgrading to smart street lighting comes with many considerations, Nicola Brittain looks at a few of the most important
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city’s ambience and security is hugely influenced by the street lighting in place. But there
are financial considerations too - street lamps make up over 40% of a city’s budget and 15% of the world’s energy demand. Smart and future proof solutions are therefore essential if planners are to keep costs low while considering safety, wellbeing, investment and sustainability targets. A smart street lamp is primarily
composed of a lamp, a light controller, (LC) sensors, a communication module, and a power supply. It may also include charging ports, a Wi-Fi hotspot and other auxiliary devices. The LC processes and transmits
data from integrated IoT sensors, receives commands from a central control, manages the lamp’s brightness by regulating power supply, and monitors the luminaire’s condition and electrical parameters. Smart street lighting uses low-
cost LED bulbs which offer savings of around 70% compared with
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traditional discharge lamps and sensors. Making them part of an IoT system can reduce consumption by a further 30%, according to a recent whitepaper from smart city experts Schreder. The environmental case is irrefutable if smart street lighting is deployed properly, but designers and technologists will have some major decisions to make for this to be the case.
SCALABILITY AND REDUNDANCY Scalability will be a key concern for
technologists looking to future proof their smart city. As a representative from IoT specialist Silicon Labs explained the best way of ensuring this is by adopting an open-source standard such as the Wi-SUN FAN mesh networking solution configured around an open-source protocol. The mesh structure means that
each device in a network can speak to its neighbours, allowing messages to travel a long distance – hopping between each node in the network.
SECURITY Another critical consideration for smart street lighting designers is security. Any device plugged into the municipal network can potentially expose the public infrastructure to hackers. Silicon Labs uses Secure Vault firmware meaning that their wireless system on a chip (SoC) solutions have a PSA Certified Level 3 certification. Wi-SUN FAN includes an integrated public key infrastructure to allow only authenticated nodes to join the network.
SENSORS AND REMOTE MONITORING Smart street lights can be equipped with sensors and communication modules that allow remote monitoring and control. This means that their brightness and timing can be altered based on real-time data to reduce unnecessary energy usage. They can also be equipped with motion sensors to detect activity in the vicinity, automatically brightening when pedestrians or vehicles are nearby and dimming during quiet periods. This saves energy and enhances safety by ensuring well-lit areas for citizens.
WEATHER CONDITIONS Web APIs in conjunction with installed sensors on street-light systems can gather real-time information across large geographic areas and be adjusted according to weather conditions like cloud cover or fog and alter light levels accordingly.
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