Dutch lighting company Signify has helped Mount Vernon in New York take its first steps towards becoming a smart city by using the city’s existing street lighting infrastructure.
The city has incorporated Signify’s Interact connected lighting system, outdoor multisensory and management software to a subset of its existing 4000 Lumec RoadFocus LED streetlights.
“We conducted a multi-phase pilot program to explore how our infrastructure could deliver value to our city beyond light itself,” said Damani Bush, Commissioner of Department of Public Works for Mount Vernon. “It quickly became evident that Signify’s connected lighting technology and sensor applications could help optimize our energy use, increase our city's sustainability efforts, and support citizen safety and quality of life.”
Mount Vernon, with a population of about 67,000 residents, is ranked in New York state's top 10 for population.
According to Signify, the D4i drivers and Zhaga Book 18 socket interface in Mount Vernon’s RoadFocus streetlights allowed the city to install nodes and sensors securely and easily. The Interact lighting management software and nodes enable the Department of Public Works to monitor, manage and control its connected streetlights remotely in a single system.
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The system can also adjust lighting schedules based on the time of day or year to ensure that light is used when needed most, the Dutch firm says.
The Zhaga-D4i-compliant outdoor multisensor adds another layer of intelligence to the system. It can help detect motion and trigger the optimal light level to ensure well-lit streets for pedestrians and drivers. It can also help automatically dim the streetlights during periods of low activity to reduce energy consumption.
Additionally, the system can provide valuable data-based insights to support asset management and offer insights into ambient noise and temperature, enabling Mount Vernon to reduce noise pollution and take preventive measures during extreme weather conditions.
“Street lighting provides a strong foundation to make cities smart, livable and sustainable,” said Martin Stephenson, Head of North American Professional Systems & Services at Signify. “We are excited to work with Mount Vernon and help it understand the value its infrastructure can deliver for the city and citizens.”
Om 2021, Dutch-based Signify announced it was acquiring Austin, Texas-based horticulture lighting firm Fluence for $272 million. The deal was completed midway through 2022.
