Light poles in the digital age: Integrating the Internet of Things to create smarter cities

Smart Light Poles SAGE — Smart Green Energy (source)

Hello! Have you ever lookd up at a streeetlight and wondered what else it does other thsn illuminating bright light? Odds are you probably have no idea but light post are hugely significant for every city around us. Via something called the Internet of Things or IoT for short, which is basically making things smarter and changing. Now, it shows that the light is more than just a source of luminosity on these poles. Here is how our Light Pole are changing and what it means for the cities that we now live in today, tomorrow!

Light Poles Get New Technology

Light poles have evolved through the years. Light-posts are not sticks with lights yet! And now, you are able to do amazing things with them. For instance, some light pole could include cameras to see what is taking place in the area around them, microphones to hear sounds and sensors that specialize in something like movement or temperature. Tools that enables light poles to collect important data and even "communicate" with other machines/ gadgets in close vicinity. This probably sounds like something from a cheesy Sci-fi film, however this is in fact occurring more and more every single day all over the world!

Light Poles in Smart Cities

Highlights: Smart light poles in the so-called smart cities A smart city is more one where technology and data sensors are used to provide safety, security, health and economic benefits its citizens. The street poles are then linked together with all of the rest in a given city, forming an infrastructural backbone. This network can improve many things such as how traffic flows, keeping people safe, and saving energy. Take the simple case of a light pole — what if it sees someone is walking down the street? It would then brighten when a person is walking to make the individual feel more secure. It can also conserve energy by dimming its light when no one is present. It is great to keep the Environment and also people safe!

The Working Of Light Poles In Cities

But light poles are starting to have a big impact on that, as they with cities work. They make improvements to the infrastructure that keeps our cities functioning well. These are systems like transport, electrical grids and telecommunications. As it happens, when light poles can connect with other them things work better — the more essential systems interact in concert. A solar light pole could, for instance, keep an eye on traffic flow a busy street. If it detects big queues of cars, then can also liaise with traffic lights to alter their timing. When lights are green more often they can help cars flow through, Counter said and avoid “creating long lines of queuing vehicles.”

What is the IoT?

First, the Internet of Things or IoT. The IoT (Internet of Things) is a neat concept where various devices are connected to the internet and can interconnect with each other. In the batteries world, with all connected light poles to IoT ( ) can "talk" to other devices like traffic lights and street signs even your smartphone!!! This builds a strong network and helps cities work better. For example, in a smart city the IoT might help to monitor air quality. The city will use this information to adjust traffic flow when the air is dirty and everyone gets sick.

Big Changes | Through the Joys of Connected Light Poles

Smart cities, with the help of connected light poles, can improve the quality of life exponentially. And the more light poles that become IoT-ready, well, one can only imagine what they will do for us. Take an example of light poles, which could detect whether a parking spot is free or not and then instantly inform the drivers about it where they can park. It is an effective way to save time and fewer cars swimming everywhere on the roads. Furthermore, light poles are also useful when it comes to emergencies. They are able to detect natural disasters like an earthquake or a flood and can alert officials, sending help fast enough.