The way we illuminate our cities has become a major issue for governments and planners, under constant pressure to reduce energy consumption and costs. This demand leads us to seek alternative solutions – namely, intelligent lighting systems.
In this article you will be able to understand a little about modern lighting systems and how they are benefiting smart cities.
What is smart city lighting?
Smart lighting is a public lighting system that integrates IoT technologies to reduce energy consumption. Equipped with sensors, video surveillance capabilities, and complex algorithms, these lighting systems can be controlled remotely and adjusted to the needs of the space. These networks are frequently deployed in cities and buildings; however, there are also uses for smart lighting in homes – on a much smaller scale. The applications of connected lighting are wide-ranging, from crime detection to sending fire alerts or other emergencies before human intervention. These lighting systems go far beyond just security, providing other operational applications such as parking space availability and street cleaning. There is also operational efficiency, such as motion-sensor streetlights that can increase illumination in high-crime areas, decreasing consumption when the area is not in use and detecting disruptions more quickly.
What are the benefits of smart lighting systems?
Smart outdoor lighting systems offer a range of benefits for cities, with the potential to:
- Improve security
- Reduce costs
- Easy installation and maintenance
- Reduce environmental impact
This is just the beginning. Below we highlight some of the key areas that are benefiting from these networks.
Security
One of the greatest benefits of smart lighting systems is their ability to keep citizens safe. These systems can often be activated remotely and can be set up in locations that lack adequate lighting, such as low-traffic areas, parking lots, garages, parks, and alleyways.
- Intelligent traffic light systems. Emergency teams can easily navigate intersections with connected traffic lights that are remotely controlled. Operators can provide a direct route to an emergency location, without the delay of red lights.
- Responsive lighting. Using intelligent lighting sensors, brightness can be controlled to improve visibility during variations in weather and light conditions.
- Faster detection of outages. A key part of city safety is keeping areas well-lit. Smart lights can alert operators via the network of blown fuses or burned-out bulbs, ensuring that streets don't go dark.
- Remote control for conditions. City operators can increase brightness in high-crime areas to deter crime. These lights can also be automated to turn on or off during peak traffic hours or when no one is in the area.
Lower Cost
Although smart lighting systems generate a seemingly higher initial cost, they quickly pay for themselves through reduced maintenance costs. Smart streetlights can be continuously monitored, giving operators the ability to identify and predict faults before they become serious problems. Maintenance teams can then be dispatched quickly and effectively, knowing exactly what the problem is before they even arrive on site.
Data Collection
Another benefit of smart streetlights is their ability to collect data from the urban environment, ranging from traffic congestion to park and sidewalk usage, weather, and other environmental factors. The real-time data collected provides policymakers with the information they need to make informed decisions about future city initiatives and infrastructure.
Reducing Energy Consumption
It is estimated that streetlights contribute up to 40% of a city's energy load. The ability to control them remotely and automate their brightness means that when lighting is reduced, the city saves money and resources.
Intelligent Lighting Systems in Action
To be an effective system, smart lighting networks need a stable communication line between the individual components and a centralized server.
That's where Robustel, exclusively represented in Brazil by Above-Net, can help.
Our routers – such as the R3000 Dual – provide a reliable connection point and have already been deployed in smart lighting systems in cities around the world to help governments keep lighting costs down, as well as making the system more time-sensitive. They needed the ability to monitor the remote lighting status in real time, as well as the dimming level, adjusting the on/off time and energy consumption.
With information from: Robustel
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