Smart lighting control means that the level of light can be adapted to needs and current conditions – for example dimming at low traffic volume times, increased light levels in poor weather and heavy traffic. LEDs can be networked, monitored and controlled remotely. Dynamically managed lighting control coupled with the switch to LED, can bring energy savings of as much as 50%.
Technology is available now to monitor and control smart street lighting through a networked communication infrastructure. The lights in an entire sector may be dimmed to varying levels, turned off or turned on – for example in adverse weather conditions.
Wireless or radio-frequency networked sensors operating on an Internet Protocol (IP) can be used to send information and receive switching instructions, giving a level of flexibility and automated control never previously possible. The system may also be applied to a smart lighting system, where the light poles already have, or can have, wired connections. The Control and Management System (CMS) Software is at the core of the Smart Control system, establishing a wireless network between all participating lights, creating a web-accessed efficient, automatic or manual, system that commands, controls, monitors and configures networks of smart streetlights as well as any other devices connected to the streetlight electrical grid, through any powerline or radio-frequency technologies. Read more on Telematics CMS Technology.
Luminaire failure locations can be communicated by standard protocol over the network instead of sending out maintenance crews at night to find failed units or mass planned maintenance removing perfectly functioning luminaires. This means dramatically reduced maintenance costs and less public inconvenience.
City planners are also keen to exploit the network infrastructure for non-lighting applications. Lighting gantries are ideal for locating sensors and other devices that can use the same power sources and networking technology to send data. The monitoring of ambient light levels, weather, noise levels, and air pollution are obvious candidates as well as monitoring Traffic Sensors, Smart Meters and Electrical Vehicle Charging Stations. Data can be made available to city services, such as utilities or emergency services, and may even be sold to external service providers. The emergence of enhanced automotive information systems, providing navigation and traffic status services, for example, could use information on traffic levels and congestion.
By understanding the potential for the network’s uses, the infrastructure system can be designed with this potential in mind. It is essential to use scalable, expandable, efficient, and reliable wireless sensor networks based on appropriate, industry-standard, communication protocols that ultimately can be linked to the Internet.
Un-networked lights can still be controllably dimmed to save up to 30% of energy use. AEC LED luminaires are equipped with an electronic power supply unit which can adjust the light output by acting directly on the current powering the LEDs in the optical unit.
DIM-AUTO: Automatic Light Flux Regulation – The power supply unit is configured using an automatic dimming profile which operates at maximum light intensity during the evening and early morning, and reduces the energy consumption in the middle of the night when a lower level of illumination is adequate. For example:
The reduction profile automatically adapts to the duration of the night-time period during the year, within the parameters set at the time of installation.
Customisable DIM-AUTO – the power supply is configured using a dimming profile totally customisable by the user (up to 5 levels in 4 steps).
DALI: Digital Addressable Lighting Interface – This option offers Flux adjustment via a digital interface. DALI is the standard digital technology for the management of luminaires and is CMS-ready.