Lighting in Design Q3 2019

through the use of innova- tive technology. The New York Times recently published an article on solar lighting in

create sustainable cities and sustainable lighting with a positive social impact. Shouldn’t it be our aim that all lighting installations be powered solely by renewable sources?Technology can be utilised in creative ways to bring people together. In Kenya perhaps this means illuminating a village shop, while in Europe it could be an interactive media facade that allows social interaction and enlivens a deprived urban zone at night.

Kenya that is transforming the lives of those with access to lighting and power through the use of small scale, affordable solar panel units that can also power cell phone chargers. It was discovered that artificial lighting allowed people in the community to interact after dark; children were able to study and do their homework at night, thereby improving their future educational potential. Sometimes a different but simple ap- proach is required to make a real difference and

Authors: Emily Dufner, Vasiliki Malakasi, Simone Col- lon and Dan Lister

www.arup.com

Lighting in Design asked Grant Combrink, marketing manager at BEKA Schréder about urban lighting in the South African context.

LiD: What socioeconomic impacts can im- proved urban/street lighting offer? GC: Urban and residential street lighting must create public realms that let people interact with each other and the environment. Proper urban lighting can improve the following as- pects: • Safety. LiD: How does modern urban/street lighting take the environment into consideration? GC: The advantages of LED lighting include: • Energy efficient. • Long product lifetime therefore non-toxic, i.e. mercury, replacement parts. • Low glare. • Light only when and where needed. • Control systems. LiD: What challenges are faced, especially in South Africa, when it comes to urban/street lighting? GC: Challenges include, low performance and specification on some low-quality imported products; not using the correct luminaire, • Energy and monetary savings. • Well-being (colour temperature).

distribution or optic for the application; vandal- ism or theft; and a slow change over to LED technology in certain areas. LiD: What role do you see smart lighting play- ing in the future of urban/street lighting? GC: Full asset management by monitoring every single lighting point and knowing its detailed configuration or status as well as instantaneous event-reaction of lighting points in mesh network. Connectivity with wireless or wired sensor on standard and open protocols; providing a city with free WiFi hotspots is advantageous both for residents and tourists, who would enjoy an internet connection without data woes, and for the local economy, which would largely benefit from increased levels of trade and tourism. LED lighting is helping transform mobile networks and providing the infrastructure for scalable Smart City development. The world is witnessing a rapid expansion of mobile broadband use. The most recent studies pre- dict global mobile data usage will double by the end of 2020, as more people want access to information and applications on the move.

This is combined with increased demand for coverage and capacity of mobile networks. In dense urban areas where space is limited, operators can struggle to increase network sites to cope with the growing demand. To combat this problem, our Shuffle col- umns – the first connected streetlight to be launched on the market – now incorporates small cell technology; improving network coverage for end-users on the street. Street lighting is the one constant pres- ence in every town and city throughout the world. By integrating small cells within the lighting columns, there is no need for ad- ditional street furniture and the collaboration between local authorities and mobile operators can be approved – allowing us all to benefit from the development of truly Smart Cities. Furthermore, energy savings of up to 85% can be achieved with Virtual Power Output from remote monitoring, giving you full control over your energy usage. Multiple dimming scenarios will enable you to have the right light at the right time to ensure safety, while at the same time, a constant light output will extend the lifetime of the fitting. www.beka-schreder.co.za

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LiD Q3 - 2019