Reading this article will help you understand what smart street lighting is, how it evolved and what makes it “smart”. You will also gain insight into what the future holds for smart street lighting and how it is a core element for building the smart cities of the future.

Smart cities are already here and everyone feels the vibe. But the increasing IoT ambitions has generated a surge in communication technologies, and things have quickly become confusing. There are tens of communication standards, open or proprietary, that you can choose from. And with everyone claiming they are the best, what are your options?

Streetlights are a core element of any public lighting system. Nowadays, modern lamps can accommodate smart controllers for remote street lighting management. However, did you know that even older lighting infrastructures can receive a smart layer? This article will answer 5 of the most important and relevant questions about smart street lamps, to help you make an informed decision when choosing a street lighting system for your project.

If the smart controller is installed with every lamp, then we have individual control. The system can collect information and control each lamp in the grid. However, if installed inside the feeder pillar, smart controllers enable segment-level lighting for a cluster of lamps. It’s more affordable and faster to deploy, but you lose some pretty important perks. Both individual and segment controllers allow on/off control, either from a computer or a mobile phone, electrical grid feedback, and even completely autonomous lighting operation.