LED Technology
massive savings not only in terms of carbon emissions, but in energy overheads too. There are also a number of key safety
benefi ts to these networks. The same sensors responsible for turning lights off can be used to detect movement and brighten the lights to ensure safer conditions for pedestrians and road users. In the event of emergencies, such as fl ooding, the same lights can be made to fl ash or change colour to raise awareness and guide people to safety.
Innovative infrastructure Better still, additional applications which enrich residents’ quality of life can also be deployed through these network canopies. For instance, when smart lighting infrastructure is present in car parks, it can generate real-time information on parking spot availability. By letting drivers know certain zones have reached capacity, the fl ow of traffi c can be diverted to less populated areas, easing any potential congestion. These capabilities are bolstered when smart lighting systems are integrated with traffi c management systems that monitor the volume of vehicles throughout a city.
Environmental sensors and photometers can also be integrated with smart streetlights to track air quality, temperature, humidity, and light pollution within specifi c areas of the city. The data collected from these devices can then be used to identify where the most intervention is required, helping to maximise the city’s available resources. Essentially, any service that a city needs, from public Wi-Fi to gunshot detection, can be facilitated through smart lighting infrastructure.
Celebrating successes
We continue to see emerging success stories regarding the use of intelligent street lighting. One such example comes from the City of London, which embarked on its own smart city project in recent years. The historic heart of the UK’s capital city had been struggling with integrating new architectural projects within the area’s medieval street pattern for some time. The narrow streets, alleys and hidden areas found within the city may provide a historical, unique environment, but also
References (1)
(2) (3)
(4) (5) (6) (7)
(8)
creates large urban canyons – known as ‘conflict areas’ which can create connectivity black-spots.
To overcome these issues, old lighting units across the city that were reaching obsoletion were to be replaced with smart lighting solutions, alongside the latest technologies designed to reduce maintenance costs, energy consumption and monitor the local environment. LEDs and a central management system would also enable the City of London to set the scene of its historical assets, using the tunable settings of digital lighting more suitable than traditional analog lights. Over the course of two years, over 12,000 lights, supported by ten different gateways and using Wi-SUN technology and its self-forming, self-healing functions were deployed within the city. Within these networks, software-based security offerings from UrbanControl helped the project remain aligned with the City of London’s stringent requirements. This project demonstrates the capabilities of open standards in delivering interoperable, smart networks that can help with everything from traffi c and parking monitoring to asset management, occupancy sensing and – crucially - lighting control.
Looking ahead
By 2050, approximately 70 per cent of the world’s population (8)
will be living in smart
cities. This should come as no surprise. Authorities need only look at projects like the one in London to see the feasibility of smart lighting in addressing concerns regarding rapid urbanisation, especially traffi c congestion, environmental detriment, and unsustainable energy consumption.
There is still a long way to go, but the evidence suggests that smart technologies will become increasingly critical to ensure a successful functioning of mass urban environments. As technological advancements continue to emerge, there is no doubt that these intelligent networks will continue to fi nd new ways to enhance effectiveness, safety and sustainability within smart cities, and deliver on the full potential these initiatives hold.
https://wi-sun.org/
https://www.un.org/en/desa/around-25-billion-more-people-will-be-living-cities-2050-projects-new-un- report#:~:text=Megacities,environmental
https://www.woodmac.com/horizons/gridlock-demand-dilemma-facing-us-power-industry
http://www.ifg.cc/aktuelles/nachrichten/themen/674-smart-city/62744-top-10-most-sustainable-smart- cities.html
https://energy-cities.eu/the-evolution-of-public-lighting-from-torches-to-smart-services https://www.berginsight.com/the-global-smart-street-lighting-market
https://www.axios.com/2021/02/11/smart-cities-street-lights
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6198#:~:text=Studies%20in%20offi ce%20 environments%20exhibited
https://www.undp.org/policy-centre/singapore/smart-cities-and-urbanisation www.cieonline.co.uk Components in Electronics November 2024 31
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