This story was originally published in Architectural Lighting.
A trio of vested parties in urban and smart lighting discussions have come together to launch a joint research project titled “Pathways to Municipal Smart Lighting.” The stakeholders are The London School of Economics’ Configuring Light research group; LUCI (Lighting Urban Community International), the international network of cities on urban lighting; and global lighting manufacturer Osram, a supporting associated member of LUCI. According to the release, the study “aims to show how municipalities worldwide understand intelligent lighting, how the topic fits into visions and plans for the urban future of towns and cities and how smart lighting can be realized within the framework of specific public policies.”
While “smart” technology discussions have been a primary topic on the global stage for several years, it is only in the past few years that it has become a main discussion point for the lighting industry, as it seeks to understand the transformation and evolution of digital lighting platforms. However, the industry has yet to establish a unified understanding of what “smart” lighting means or represents. This, coupled with the differences in private and public sector entities’ understanding of the implementation of “smart” lighting solutions at the municipal level, reveals an ever-growing need for such a study.
Through a global city survey and a case study format of five selected cities, “Pathways to Municipal Smart Lighting,” will examine the efforts of municipalities worldwide to implement smart lighting strategies. According to the release, the study “will clarify the motives, objectives and expectations driving the demand for smart lighting, compare challenges and opportunities for cities worldwide, and provide information on which strategic routes municipalities will follow in the future with their intelligent lighting." Don Slater, co-founder of the Configuring Light research group and Associate Professor (Reader) in Sociology at LSE, leads the project.
This past November, LUCI and the LSE Configuring Light research group signed a Memorandum of Understanding “to work together to move lighting up the social and political agenda as a central aspect of urban life and well-being.” “Pathways to Municipal Smart Lighting,” is scheduled to be presented later this year at the LUCI Annual General Meeting in November 2018.
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