Dubai: Street lights in Dubai could soon be adapting to the needs and movement of road users, turning brighter when required and dimming down when streets are not in use.
On Saturday the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that in partnership with Philips Lighting, it has launched a pilot project using intelligent lighting system at Jumeirah Corniche.
According to the RTA, the project aims to identify the benefits of implementing the Intelligent Pedestrian and Cycling Track Lighting System.
The system adapts the luminary level to the need and movement of road users and according to the provisional readings obtained by the RTA, the pilot project has revealed savings of as much as 40 per cent, besides the usual savings incurred through LED technology.
When compared to power consumed by conventional lighting system, the saving would rise to around 70 per cent to 80 per cent.
Explaining the system, Eng. Maitha Mohammad Bin Adai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, said: “The system uses specialised sensors that monitor the movement on the road and controls the light intensity. It communicates and sets the nearby lighting poles ready for the passage of road users. Thus, it contributes to power saving and at the same time ensures a safe lighting level for pedestrians and road users.”
The pilot follows an RTA delegation’s visit to the Outdoor Lighting Applications Centre (OLAC) at Philips Lighting in Leon, France.
Led by Bin Adai, the delegation visited OLAC to acquaint with the latest trends of intelligent lighting technologies developed by Philips. The centre is one of the prominent global platforms for exhibiting the latest practical applications of outdoor lighting.
“The visit was made in the context of the MoU signed between RTA and Philips Lighting in May 2017 that calls for building a strategic partnership in scientific research. It called specifically for reviewing the latest technologies of street lights, architectural lighting and smart systems for city development,” said Bin Adai.
