However, many cities are taking this street light transformation one step further, using IoT-enabled connected street lighting to improve their citizens’ quality of life, increase revenues, cut costs and support the deployment of a range of smart city applications. For example, smart street lighting enables city officials to increase and decrease illumination levels at different times of the day or night in response to weather events. Cities can use it to develop “follow-me” strategies that turn on street lighting only in response to specific pedestrian or vehicle activity, allowing them to reduce their energy costs. Smart street lights enable light flashing and sequencing to support traffic and crowd control during special events. They can also be used to improve safety by increasing lighting in higher-crime areas and providing first responders with the ability to increase lighting when they respond to an incident.
Until recently, cities trying to centralize connectivity for smart street lighting used proprietary gateways that connected to smaller segments of street lights already connected via low-bandwidth communications, such as a power line carrier (PLC) or a local RF mesh network. A cellular modem could also be added for backhaul communications to the central management software platform. However, this proprietary infrastructure was expensive and had limited utility.
With the development of the Internet of Things (IoT), there’s now a much better way. Point-to-point (P2P) cellular technology eliminates the need for proprietary gateways and segment controllers. A wireless cellular modem on each light pole can be configured to support low or high data throughput, depending on the application. A small antenna mounted on the pole enables direct communication to a central management software platform, creating a single network and paving the way for the use of advanced sensors and actuators that enable the deployment of other smart city applications in the future.
P2P technology also delivers a variety of other benefits over previous, proprietary connected street lighting technologies:
Once light poles are connected to a central management software platform, regional and municipal governments can use this new intelligent infrastructure as the foundation for other smart city initiatives – all made more efficient and cost effective by taking advantage of these existing assets.
For example, smart city public safety applications can use video surveillance cameras, emergency call stations and environmental monitoring stations (with sensors to detect earthquakes, air quality, noise, etc.) strategically placed on light poles. Digital signage on select street light poles can provide real-time information to drivers, pedestrians and residents related to traffic, emergencies and local events, or be used to generate advertising revenue for the city.
Connected street lighting also enables governments to use their street lights for wi-fi access. These access points can be used by city personnel to lower their cellular data usage, reducing city expenses. Wi-fi access points can also be used to provide internet access to local businesses and residents, providing the city with new sources of leasing or adverting revenues. In addition, cities can use these wi-fi access points to help bridge the digital divide by providing poorer city residents with free or low-cost internet access. Smart parking meters or pay stations connected to light poles can eliminate the costs associated with trenching for standalone meters and pay stations.
Electric vehicle (EV) charging stations can be equipped with payment processing that is integrated with connected lighting in parking lots and near entertainment venues, increasing access for EV drivers, encouraging greater adoption of EVs and generating additional revenue for regional and municipal governments.
Alone, connected street lights using P2P cellular technology offer cities the opportunity to make their city’s lighting more useful, less expensive and smarter. However, connected street lights can also accelerate deployment of wi-fi access points, digital signage, connected parking meters, EV charging stations and other smart city initiatives that allow cities to deliver their citizens a higher quality of life, while also improving city finances. As they move forward with digital transformation, regional and municipal governments should first look at how the IoT enables a seemingly simple technology – the street light – to serve as the foundation for their smart city initiatives.
Regional and municipal governments can Start with Sierra to build more connected, smarter cities. Our recent white paper, The Humble Street Light Shines in Smart City Strategies, provides more detail on how governments can build connected lighting systems that speed the deployment of smart city applications designed to make their cities greener, safer and more efficient.
Original published via IIoT World