Since 2013, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has started implementing energy-efficient Light Emitting Diodes (LED) for Singapore’s street lights and will extend this technology to all street lights island-wide. LTA will also replace the existing timer-based street lighting system with a Remote Control and Monitoring System (RCMS) to allow the system to be more responsive to weather changes.
Based on findings from trials which LTA conducted for medium-powered and high-powered LED lightings, LED street lights are about 25 per cent more energy-efficient than current street lighting. In addition, LED lighting is more reliable and requires less frequent replacement. This helps conserve energy and reduce maintenance and manpower costs.
LTA has installed LED lighting for approximately 4,000 street lights since 2014 and will be calling tenders to replace all 25,000 street lights in the Central area with LED street lights by 2019. Street lights in all other areas will be replaced with LED lighting by 2022.
A Remote Control and Monitoring System (RCMS) will also be developed by LTA to allow street lighting to be more responsive to inclement weather. Currently, street lights operate at pre-programmed seasonal sunrise and sunset timings. With the RCMS, LTA can remotely switch street lights on and off in response to varying street lighting needs. The RCMS will also enable LTA to have a more responsive and efficient maintenance regime as it features automated fault detection and alert capabilities.
Besides the RCMS, the Government Technology Agency (GovTech) will leverage LTA’s smart lighting infrastructure to test the feasibility of deploying a shared network for low bandwidth wireless sensors. As part of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, interconnected lamp posts are envisioned to be a key part of Singapore’s national sensor communications network.
Besides tapping on the existing public lighting infrastructure, this trial will involve the private sector working with the government and enable smart, connected sensors and objects to deliver more efficient and smarter services to benefit citizens.