Riyadh SmartPole Case Study: Gebosun IoT Streetlight Modernization

Background

The Riyadh Government District encompasses over 10 km² of administrative buildings, public plazas, and thoroughfares serving tens of thousands of civil servants and visitors daily. Until 2024, the district relied on outdated 150 W sodium-vapor streetlights, many of which had exceeded their designed service life. The aging fixtures consumed excessive energy, required frequent ballast replacements, and offered no capacity for digital services.

Client Objectives

1. Energy & Cost Reduction

   • Cut street-lighting energy bills by at least 60%.

   • Minimize maintenance visits and lamp replacements.

2. Public Wi-Fi Deployment

   • Provide robust, district-wide public internet access to support e-government kiosks and visitor connectivity.

3. Environmental Monitoring & Health Alerts

   • Track air quality and noise pollution in real time.

   • Issue automated alerts if pollutant thresholds are exceeded.

4. Seamless Integration & Fast ROI

   • Use existing pole foundations to avoid civil works.

   • Achieve payback within 3 years through energy savings and service monetization.

Gebosun SmartPole Solution

1. Hardware Retrofit & Modular Design

• LED Module Swap-Out
  – Replaced 5,000 sodium-vapor luminaires with 70 W high-efficiency LED heads.
  – Integrated automatic dimming: 100% output at dusk, 50% during low-traffic hours, 80% near entry points.

• Communication Hub
  – Installed dual-band 2.4 GHz/5 GHz Wi-Fi access points with external high-gain antennas.
  – Deployed LoRaWAN gateways to mesh-connect environmental sensors.

• Sensor Suite
  – Mounted air-quality sensors (PM2.5, CO₂) and acoustic sensors for real-time noise mapping.
  – Configured geofenced pollutant alerts routed to the district’s emergency-response center.

2. Smart City Control System (SCCS) Deployment

• Central Dashboard
  – Live map view showing lamp status (on/off, dim level), power draw, and sensor readings.
  – Custom alert thresholds: operators receive SMS/email if a lamp fails or air quality index (AQI) exceeds 150.

• Automated Maintenance Workflows
  – SCCS generates weekly maintenance tickets for any lamp running below 85% luminous flux.
  – Integration with on-site CMMS enables field teams to close tickets electronically, speeding up repair cycles.

3. Phased Roll-Out & Training

• Pilot Phase (Q1 2024)
  – Upgraded 500 poles in the northern sector. Measured energy consumption and Wi-Fi usage patterns.
  – Achieved 65% energy reduction in pilot area, exceeding the 60% target.

• Full Deployment (Q2–Q4 2024)
  – Scaled installation across all 5,000 poles.
  – Conducted on-site SCCS training for 20 municipal technicians and planners.
  – Delivered detailed as-built DIALux lighting simulation reports for regulatory compliance.

Results & ROI

• Energy Savings: 7.26 million kWh saved annually—equivalent to removing 1,300 cars from the road.

• Cost Savings: SAR 2.9 million in yearly electricity charges.

• Maintenance Reduction: Field-team workload decreased by 71%, enabling reallocation of staff to other municipal projects.

• Public Engagement: Over 12,000 citizens/month connected via free Wi-Fi; positive feedback from e-government kiosk usage.

• Environmental Health: AQI monitoring and alerts helped the local health department issue timely advisories, improving public trust in district services.

Client Testimonial

“The Gebosun SmartPole solution surpassed our energy and connectivity goals. Their modular approach let us upgrade without disrupting traffic or digging new foundations. The SCCS dashboard gives us unparalleled visibility into system health and air quality. We reached full payback in under three years, and our citizens appreciate the fast, reliable Wi-Fi. Gebosun has become a true partner in Riyadh’s smart-city journey.”
— Eng. Laila Al-Harbi, Director of Public Works, Riyadh Municipality

Why Choose Gebosun for Your Next SmartPole Project?

• Proven Track Record: Over 18 years of global deployments—trusted by major cities and institutions.

• Rapid Deployment: Phased installation strategy minimizes downtime and delivers quick wins.

• Modular & Future-Proof: Easily add new services (5G small cells, EV charging, digital signage) as needs evolve.

• Local Support: Arabic- and English-speaking technical teams in Riyadh ensure fast response and seamless integration.