| By Dinh Tien Vu from Vietnam Cast Iron
The lighting industry has marked fabulous step up and breakthrough in this decade, particularly seen in the countries that pursue smart city strategies. Discuss about the structure of the regional-scaled lighting system, we can not ignore street lighting post system and its trends in upcoming time. At this post, VIC will help you analyze and answer these concerns.
The illuminating system can shape its shadow to the apprerance of the road as well as the city. The street lighting can enhance the public communication and make pleasant mood for people around.
We are living in a world that innovation climbs up day by day. We have seen through the outdoor lamp post function has been smarter and smarter that serves our life far better than before. Hence, it is born the definition of so-called smart lighting.
Check some Lamp post styles and models that are popular nowaday:
What is the smart street light?
Smart lighting is the fixture that integrates intelligent functions by using automatic or manual sensors, to meet the need for collection and measurement of the information including traffic density, weather data, air quality, noise, etc. and then adjust and create solutions to serve citizen better.
Let’s with VIC to figure out a clear insight toward upcoming trends of street lighting posts.
The future trend of street lighting post
1. Apply LED lighting technology
The street light system has been gradually transitioning to LED technology. According to Transformative Technology Research for Visionaries ABI Research, the revenue of global smart street lighting companies will increase 10 times to reach $1.7 billion by 2026.
Particularly in Australia and New Zealand, which are two countries that are expected to invest up to $780 million by mid-2020 to convert 95% of existing streetlights into LEDs, and 70% of them will be equipped with network connection in 2027.
The great advantages of LED lights and low power wide area (LPWA) technology make it impossible for countries to sit idly by. The US and Australia are realizing the benefits of deploying smart street light infrastructure, and get ready for the future. A case in point is Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania.
The advantages of applying LED street light technology:
- Save energy: due to the LED’s instantaneous on / off capability, no waste time to light up and no flicker ($ 510,000 saved in Harrisburg per year thanks to LED lighting calculated).
- Reduce maintenance and repair costs: LEDs have high durability and stability due to being made of high-grade semiconductor materials, resistant to external effects such as sun, wind, etc. Plus, the connection center provides data for allowing for better information feedback, proactive error response, making night patrol unnecessary.
- Environmental protection: The structure of the LED light does not have harmful components such as mercury, carbon, lead, and does not contain UV rays, ultraviolet rays and especially does not produce CO2 emitted into the environment.
- Longevity: LED lighting life-span can be up to more than 20 years of use, reducing significantly the cost of bulb replacing in the city.
- Good performance and quality: LED light is similar to daylight. These are powerful light sources, emitted continuously and evenly, very convenient for all activities.
Lamp post applications:
Disadvantages when deploying LED street light installation:
- High initial cost: Because it is manufactured with the most modern materials and technology, the initial investment cost in LED street lights will be more expensive than other lamps.
- Impact on the lighting industry: On a macro perspective, the longer life of LED bulbs will inadvertently affect the lighting industry’s revenue after a few decades.
Obviously with the above advantages and disadvantages, the use of LED technology will still be given priority as it is in accordance with the Commercial Building Energy Use Law and the Federal Product Regulations (United States).
2. Combined using sensors with street lights
The ability to control brightness and illuminating time via sensors can help save costs while maintaining the usability and safety of an area.
Motion sensors can also provide detailed information about when a space is most used through statistical analysis.
Suppose at a stretch of Express way A, the number of traffic starts to become less dense at 11pm, while on highway B, this happens at 1am. Thus, based on the motion sensor installed in the street light system, it is possible to consider dimming the bulb at that time to save energy.
With additional applications it will be even more interesting, street lights will be integrated with color change feature at dangerous roads; The service technicians will also know immediately when the lamp is faulty; or smart options such as charging electric vehicles, providing Wifi for pedestrians, safety cameras, sensors to find parking, smart signs … These sensors will help solve urgent problems relating to traffic and security.
Light levels are tailored to events in real time, and sensor-based light levels can be monitored and managed by the IoT (Internet of Things) platform.
In cities that implement this platform, mechatronics and sensing technology will flourish.
In the US, the city of Harrisburg is currently using street lights connected to network infrastructure to deploy smart city technologies.
In March 2019 in the city of DARWIN in Australia, Telensa — a company specializing in smart street lighting systems was selected to deploy its PLANet smart street lighting system. Darwin will replace nearly 10,000 street lights and public lighting networks with wirelessly connected LEDs. They will be controlled by a Central Management System (CMS) and hosted by Amazon Web Services in Australia.
Array of Things (AoT) is a Chicago-based project done in 2016. A network of modular interactive sensor boxes will be installed on light poles around Chicago to collect real-time data about climate, air quality and noise. The collected data will be made publicly available to enable relevant agencies to work together and take concrete actions to make Chicago and other cities healthier, more efficient and worth living more.
3. Change in industries
DOE (US) says the average life expectancy of outdoor LED bulbs is up to 68,000 hours. Overall, the service life of lighting products will increase as LEDs become ubiquitous. The long life cycle will disrupt the lighting industry in many different ways. In the future, the revenue of this industry will decrease is inevitable.
As maintenance shifts from lamp replacement to bulbs replacement every 10–20 years, the maintenance and repair business is also forecasted to fade away.
However, in the near future, this is also a great opportunity for companies in the lighting industry, followed by the development of related industries such as casting, solar energy, mechatronics and sensor technology…
The impact of the European Commission
A major European project called ‘Humble Lamppost’ was set up. Humble Lamppost is a project launched by the European Commission. Instead of investing money directly in smart lighting infrastructure, the Commission aims to bring together interested organizations and encourage them to develop the market themselves.
“Humble Lamppost” serves as a great support project for any city included in their plans.
There are 60–90 million lampposts across Europe and 75% of them are over 25 years old. They consume 20 to 50% of the city’s energy budget. Upgrading to LEDs could save 50–70% of energy costs — that is approximately €2 billion as well as 50% of maintenance costs at the EU as a whole.
Conclusion
Thus, the technology trend of street light in the future is quite clear, and now it has been deployed in developed countries. That trend is inevitable and other countries obviously cannot ignore.
That is the upcoming prospect but completely visible future. At the present time, as the speed of lighting technology changes is accelerating, more adaptation is required. However, change in the lighting industry takes longer than in other industries. That envisioned future is right before our eyes.
Reference: IoTUK, The Global Power & Energy Elites
|By Dinh Tien Vu from Vietnam Cast Iron