Intelligent Street Lighting Solutions

Intelligent street lighting turns every luminaire into a controllable, measurable city asset. By combining smart street lights, multi-purpose smart poles, standards-based controllers (NEMA or Zhaga), robust communications, and the Smart City Control System (SCCS), municipalities cut energy use, improve safety, and unlock new services—on grid or with a solar smart street light network.

What Is Intelligent Street Lighting?Intelligent street lighting is a connected LED lighting system where each luminaire or pole can be monitored and controlled remotely. The network applies adaptive dimming, sensor-based automation, and real-time fault diagnostics to deliver bright, uniform illumination only when and where it’s needed. It reduces electricity bills, enhances road safety, and streamlines maintenance for public works teams.

Core capabilities

Remote on/off, scheduling, and multi-level dimming
Live status, power metering, and fault alarms
Occupancy and ambient-light response for context-aware lighting
Integration with cameras, environmental sensors, Wi-Fi, and EV charging

Key components

LED luminaires with roadway optics and surge protection
Smart drivers and plug-and-play controllers (NEMA or Zhaga)
Communications (LoRa-MESH, PLC, 4G/LTE, RS485)
Central management via SCCS

Why Intelligent Lighting Matters Right Now

Energy & Cost

LED efficacy + dimming schedules + sensor logic often cut energy use by 50–70% vs. legacy lighting, decreasing OPEX and payback time.

Safety & Experience

Better uniformity, fewer dark spots, and adaptive brightening during peak activity improve comfort for drivers and pedestrians.

Sustainability

Lower energy and longer lifetimes reduce carbon footprint. With solar smart lighting, corridors can run fully off-grid.

System Architecture & Building Blocks

1:LED Luminaires & OpticsHigh-efficiency LED engines paired with roadway optics deliver target illuminance and uniformity while minimizing glare. Specify CCT, CRI, surge levels, corrosion class, and ingress protection for your climate and road classes. Explore our smart street light options.

2:Smart Drivers & Dimming InterfacesStreet light drivers provide constant current and support 0–10V or DALI/D4i dimming. They enable smooth, reliable control from the attached controller and protect against grid disturbances.

3:Controllers & SocketsControllers turn each light into an addressable node. On AC/grid projects, the NEMA single-lamp controller is the fastest retrofit path. On new or solar builds, compact Zhaga (Book 18/D4i) controllers offer low-voltage power and standardized data models.

4:Gateways & CommunicationsDepending on coverage and IT policies, choose LoRa/LoRaWAN (low-power wide area), PLC (over the power line), 4G/LTE or NB-IoT (cellular), or RS485 (wired for tunnels).

5:Central Management PlatformThe Smart City Control System (SCCS) maps devices, pushes schedules, tracks energy, raises alarms, and integrates with third-party systems—on web, tablet, or mobile.

Controllers: NEMA vs. Zhaga (and Where Each Fits)

Aspect	NEMA (ANSI C136.41)	Zhaga (Book 18 / D4i)
Best use case	AC/grid retrofits on existing LEDs	New LED or solar fixtures needing compact control
Electrical interface	3/5/7-pin twist-lock; 0–10V/DALI dimming	Low-voltage 4-pin; D4i accessory power & data
Size & placement	Larger (contains high-voltage stages)	Smaller; mounts neatly on luminaire top/side
Interoperability	Broad with legacy drivers	Strong in D4i ecosystems; future-proof data
Example product	NEMA Single-Lamp Controller	Wireless Zhaga Controller (Solar/LoRa-Mesh)

Communication Options for Citywide Control

LoRa-MESH

Long-range, low-power. Ideal for large areas with sparse power availability at gateways. Backhaul via fiber or 4G/LTE.

PLC (Power Line Communication)

Uses existing power cables for data, reducing RF planning. Works well on continuous feeders, such as highways or boulevards.

4G/LTE / NB-IoT

Fast to deploy using cellular networks. Great for pilots, distributed sites, or where LoRa/PLC coverage is constrained.

RS485 (Wired)

Deterministic and robust for short, controlled runs—common in tunnels, depots, or enclosed sites.

AC vs. Solar Smart Lighting (SSLS)Intelligent lighting works on the grid—and off it. With a Solar Smart Light System, each pole integrates PV panels, batteries, and an MPPT charge controller to run autonomously. For solar projects, Zhaga/D4i controllers and low-voltage drivers pair well with energy-aware logic.

AC/Grid Advantages

Quick retrofit with NEMA controllers
No battery lifecycle to manage
High power availability for demanding optics

Solar (SSLS) Advantages

No trenching or metering; ideal for remote roads
Resilient during grid outages and disasters
Green branding and ESG impact

For component selection, see MPPT Solar Charge Controllers and Smart Solar Street Light options.

Smart Poles: From Lighting to City Platforms A smart pole is more than lighting. It’s a modular platform for cameras, environmental sensors, Wi-Fi access, public speakers, emergency call points, digital signage, and even EV charging. One structure, many services—managed through SCCS.

Public safety: CCTV, SOS intercom, incident alerts
Connectivity: Wi-Fi APs, small cells, backhaul radios
Citizen engagement: LED signage for info and alerts
Sustainability: Optional solar kits and EV charging bays

Design & Deployment Workflow (incl. DIALux)

Baseline audit: Count poles, feeder circuits, lamp powers, fault logs, and energy tariffs. Set KPIs (energy, uniformity, uptime).
Lighting design: Request a free DIALux design with IES files to meet roadway classes and glare limits.
Product selection: Choose wattages, optics, CCT, corrosion class, surge rating, and controller standard (NEMA or Zhaga).
Communications plan: LoRa, PLC, LTE, or hybrid—document gateway density and backhaul.
SCCS provisioning: Register devices, create groups, configure dimming scenes, and assign user roles.
Pilot & tune: Deploy a district, validate photometrics, test alarms, and optimize schedules by traffic profile.
Rollout & training: Scale citywide with installation playbooks, O&M manuals, and cybersecurity policies.
Reporting: Track energy, CO₂ avoidance, uptime, and ROI; iterate seasonally.

Operations, Cybersecurity & Maintenance

Daily operations with SCCS

Map view of poles, groups, and circuits
Schedules and adaptive dimming by time, event, or sensor
Fault alarms with ticketing and SLAs
Energy dashboards and exportable reports

Cybersecurity basics

Network segmentation and VPN for gateways
Certificate-based authentication; key rotation
Role-based access control and audit trails
Regular firmware updates and secure boot where available

Maintenance playbook

Use SCCS alarms to localize faults before dispatch
Maintain spare drivers, controllers, and surge units
Seasonal review of dimming curves vs. traffic patterns
Annual inspection of pole integrity and electrical grounds

ROI, Funding & Tender ChecklistsFinancial model inputs

Energy savings from LED efficacy + dimming (% and kWh)
Maintenance savings (fewer patrols, targeted repairs)
Tariffs, time-of-use rates, and potential incentives
Optional revenue from signage or telecom co-hosting on smart poles

Specification checklist for bids

Roadway classes and photometric targets (IES files)
Luminaire wattages, optics, CCT, CRI, SPD
Controller standard (NEMA or Zhaga) and dimming protocol
Communications topology (LoRa/PLC/LTE/RS485; gateway density)
SCCS features: asset registry, alarms, analytics, APIs, mobile app
Cybersecurity requirements and update policy
Warranty, SLAs, and O&M documentation

Explore the SmartBrighten Portfolio

Smart Street Light

High-efficiency LED street luminaires with roadway optics, robust surge protection, and controller sockets for citywide control.

Smart Pole & Smart City

Modular poles that consolidate lighting, CCTV, sensors, Wi-Fi, signage, and optional EV charging—managed in SCCS.

NEMA Single-Lamp Controller

Retrofit-friendly AC control with 0–10V/DALI dimming, metering, alarms, and over-the-air updates.

Zhaga Controller

Compact Book 18/D4i controller for new LED or solar builds, enabling low-voltage power and standardized telemetry.

Smart City Control System (SCCS)

Map-based control, energy analytics, fault alarms, user roles, integrations, and mobile access for thousands of devices.

MPPT Solar Charge Controllers

High-efficiency MPPT controllers for Smart Solar Street Light projects, improving charge yield and autonomy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Intelligent Street Lighting?

It’s a connected LED lighting network with controllers, communications, and central software to remotely manage each luminaire or pole for efficiency and safety.

How is a smart street light different from a smart pole?

A smart street light focuses on lighting with remote control. A smart pole hosts additional services like CCTV, Wi-Fi, sensors, signage, and EV charging on the same mast.

Do I need NEMA or Zhaga?

Choose NEMA for AC/grid retrofits; choose Zhaga/D4i for new or solar deployments.

Can I use solar?

Yes. See Solar Smart Light System and MPPT controllers for off-grid or hybrid corridors.

Which communication should I pick?

LoRa/LoRaWAN for low-power wide coverage, PLC over power lines, 4G/LTE or NB-IoT for cellular backhaul, and RS485 for short wired runs such as tunnels.

How does SCCS improve O&M?

SCCS centralizes maps, schedules, alarms, and analytics to reduce night patrols and enable proactive maintenance.

What savings are typical?

Many projects see 50–70% energy reductions plus lower maintenance costs due to remote diagnostics and targeted repairs.

Do you provide free lighting design?

Yes—request a free DIALux design to validate uniformity and glare before purchasing.

What documents do I need for tender?

IES photometrics, DIALux layouts, controller specs, communication topology, cybersecurity policy, and O&M/warranty terms.

How do I get pricing?

Share your quantities, road classes, and power option (AC/solar) via Contact Us.

Let’s Build Your Intelligent Street Lighting RoadmapWhether you’re upgrading grid-connected corridors with NEMA controllers or launching an off-grid smart solar lighting network with Zhaga/D4i, SmartBrighten delivers end-to-end support—from DIALux design to SCCS setup and training.Get my tailored plan & quotation