‘tvilight’ smart street lights by chintan shah
image © tvilight BV
developed by dutch designer chintan shah, ‘tvilight‘ smart street lights illuminate only when needed, reducing light pollution and saving potentially billions of dollars and millions of tons of CO2 emissions each year.
the concept hinges on a ‘citysense’ wireless sensor, able to be integrated into both existing and new street lighting fixtures. the sensor detects the presence of cars, cyclists, or pedestrians (excluding mice and other animals) and estimates their speed, causing a streetlight to shine at full brightness in anticipation of the person’s passing by, and reduce to a dim glow when not needed. the exact level of brightness varies depending on the ambient weather and lighting conditions, and can be configured further through a central ‘city manager’ control system. each ‘citysense’ module can also send maintenance information and notifications of lamp failure to the central command or via e-mail to specific technicians.
shah predicts that the ‘tvilight’ system will reduce energy costs and CO2 emissions by 80% and maintenance time and costs by an additional 50%. at present, europe spends over €10 billion ($13 billion) a year powering streetlights, approximately 40% of governments’ energy costs. shah is already considering additional features for the system, such as the ability for the lamps to flicker red if an ambulance or fire truck is on its way through. he is also working under the mentorship of daan roosegaarde (who has a ‘smart highways‘ project of his own) to explore the poetic potentials of the device.
video demo of the ‘tvilight’ smart streetlights in action
‘tvilight’ is already in use in four townships in holland and kerry county in ireland, as well as on the delft university of technology campus, where shah first designed the system while still a student.
design concept for the smart streetlamps, which turn on only when needed
image © tvilight BV
a street in assen, in the netherlands, where ‘tvilight’ streetlights are already in use
image © tvilight BV
the ‘city manager’ software centralizes the monitoring and control of an entire region of ‘tvilight’ lamps
image © tvilight BV
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I was just thinking about safety issues at places where there are light to ensure the away keeping of thugs etc, but the lamps of course have to be on standby, or else they wouldn’t light up on time. The Idea is great and is the equivalent of having triggered lights at doorways and corridors. it will need getting used to it but combined with LED the savings in energy and cost will be immense.
@Jim, Indeed since you live at a place deprived of street lights, you would not understand or appreciate the value of this brilliant solution!
Thank God I live out in the country where there are no lights. It would drive me NUTS to have them come on/off at random intervals. I understand the concept. I appreciate the savings. I appreciate not everyone can live where there is little light pollution, but I would need to sleep in a crypt like a vampire if these were near me.
Jim