Latest lighting upgrades bridge operations and transport data

A new version of an intelligent streetlighting control system has been released, aimed at cities and utilities managing large LED networks that include a mix of older and newer equipment.

The update from Ubicquia combines a smaller streetlight controller, changes to the software used to monitor and maintain lighting assets, and an optional video-based add-on intended to support traffic and kerbside analysis using existing poles. The system also uses AI-based analytics to help cities interpret lighting, maintenance and mobility data and prioritise action.

Keith Chinchar, General Manager, Smart Streetlighting at Ubicquia, told Cities Today that the changes are intended to simplify deployment and reduce day-to-day maintenance effort.

“UbiCell Micro provides a universal solution for all fixture types offering simpler inventory and deployment,” Chinchar said. “It connects via a standard modem with eSIM over public or private cellular networks, so cities do not need to build a proprietary mesh or radio network.”

The release includes a controller designed to work across different fixture types and voltage ranges, allowing authorities to deploy a single device across varied parts of the network. The controller connects via standard cellular networks, removing the need to build or maintain separate radio or mesh networks when retrofitting across districts developed at different times.

Alongside the hardware update, changes to the associated management platform are intended to help cities identify faults remotely and plan maintenance work more effectively. AI-driven analysis is used to flag likely failures and support maintenance planning, reducing the need to send crews out to check lights in person.

Chinchar said some cities using the combined system have reduced the number of times maintenance crews need to be sent out by more than 50 percent, with payback periods of under two years, depending on network size, staffing models and local costs. In larger deployments, he said additional savings have been achieved through dimming strategies that reduce electricity use across large lighting estates.

The update also introduces a video-based accessory that can be attached to streetlight controllers to collect information on pedestrian movement, vehicle flows and kerb activity. The AI analytics associated with the device are intended to support transport planning and kerb management, rather than operate as a standalone system.

“We are not just integrating data, but workflow across departments,” Chinchar said. “The structure and design of the solution provides a cross-functional capability.”

Main image: Elxeneize | Dreamstime.com