Synergising the power of lighting

Smart lighting is the backbone of any smart city and its lighting technology is designed for energy efficiency. Here, is an analysis on how LED lights have a prominent position on IoT platform owing to its contribution towards Smart City by being intelligent, future proof.

LED lights are not just indication anymore, whether it’s any professional, home or outdoor luminary, the installation of smart lighting can play a key role in strategizing for a smart city.

Considerations for developing a smart light
Powerful LEDs these days are becoming more specialised as they can produce thousands of lumens and lights with low power.Rambo Zhang, Country Head, Opple Lighting India says, “Important aspects which should always be kept in mind while developing a smart light for home, commercial and industrial application is that it should be energy efficient, economical, high performance with balanced color temperature and lumens per watt. “

While developing smart lights, we take several factors into consideration, such as the application and usage of these lights, the benefits to end users and the industries we are catering to. For example, while developing a smart light for consumers’ homes, we consider their priorities of convenience, safety and multipurpose usage in mind. On the other hand, while developing smart lights for cities, we keep in mind that the lights need to be remotely monitored and repairable, in addition to carrying multiple sensors such as air quality, noise etc. Sumit Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Signify India (formerly known as Philips Lighting India) says, “Connected lights for smart cities must also be able to integrate multiple devices into an IoT platform managed by city administrators.“

Fahad Khateeb, Director, Indilites LED Lighting points out the aspects that needs to be considered as:
• The power consumption of the light
• Illumination required during early hours of the evening when there is relatively higher public movement and later hours when not much movement is expected
• The compatibility with server systems that will be monitoring the performance of these lights
• The after sales service requirements for the lights as well as the CCMS

Smart home, smart city, smart nation
Today’s consumers have started leading a life that is convenient and voice controlled devices are changing the way we live. Consumers are becoming acquainted with the idea of smart products. Smart products will aid in creation of smart homes which will enable in converting a city into smart city and hence creating ‘smart’ nation. Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group says, “Smart home technology is the future and Syska promises to offer consumers with innovative smart home products that will enable them to live a smart life. We have been creating sustainable products thereby promoting and accelerating the adoption of energy-efficient and environment ¬ friendly lighting solutions.”

Choosing the right street lighting platform
With smart cities becoming ubiquitous nowadays, it is important for municipalities to choose street lights that are intelligent, future proof and can be connected to a IoT platform that can integrate multiple smart devices in a city.

Joshi of Signify India says, “We, at Signify, offer a range of intelligent and people-focused lighting solutions that can enhance the quality of life in cities, making them safer, better connected and more desirable places to live and work, while at the same time enhancing energy efficiency.”

Signify India, recently, introduced a solution called Interact City for smart cities and street lighting. This is a connected lighting management platform, wherein each light point can be connected and its performance data can be sent through existing cellular networks to the city’s lighting office (Industry & Energy Department) or operator. The data can then enable the city officials to efficiently monitor the city’s lighting infrastructure and remotely manage illumination levels to match different needs by district.

Uttamchandani of Syska Group suggests, “When it comes to street lights, switching to LED lighting is a wise decision as it consumers less energy. It needs detailed study of the required color temperature, CRI, Lumens, beam angle etc which helps in deciding the right product for the specific performance.”

The functionality of street lights is multi-faceted, and few factors which are necessary are that it should be highly resilient, durable and weather resistant. Zhang of Opple Lighting India says, “Opple has a varied range of LED luminaries under the range of outdoor light. There are various segments under this category which are LED street light performer, LED outdoor wall washer performer and LED floodlight ecomaxH.

The easiest way to choose the street lighting platform is to keep in check the power consumption of the luminaries. According to Khateeb of Indilites LED Lighting, following factors needs to be taken into account while choosing a street light:

• The safety risks in the locality
• The budget for installation and maintenance. Smart lighting systems are more expensive than conventional systems but in the longer run will provide more value for money and extended security
• In the years to come, smart and connected lighting is going to be the only preferred and prevalent means of street lighting keeping in mind the manifold benefits offered by them.

Syska promises to offer consumers with innovative smart home products that will enable them to live a smart life.
Gurumukh Uttamchandani, Executive Director, Syska Group

Smart lights should be compatible with the server systems that will be monitoring the performance of the lights.
Fahad Khateeb, Director, Indilites LED Lighting

The street lights should be highly resilient, durable and weather resistant.
Rambo Zhang, Country Head, Opple Lighting India

Connected lights for smart cities must be able to integrate multiple devices into an IoT platform managed by city administrators.
Sumit Joshi, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Signify India