At the heart of the "SMART LIGHTING" project, which is being funded by the Hessian Ministry for Digitalisation and Innovation with around 1.3 million euros, is the "Open Urban Data Platform".
Sensor and lighting control systems
In future, sensor data on traffic volume, pedestrian frequency and road conditions will make it possible to control the Rodgau street lighting in the respective area optimally and according to actual requirements. This is based on innovative analysis models implemented on the platform, which translate the data received into the optimum luminaire setting in each case and automatically transmit this to the lighting control system. This creates interoperability between sensor and lighting control systems that was previously not possible. Energy efficiency and nature/insect protection are raised to a new level in Rodgau without compromising traffic safety or the quality of life in the city. This ensures that the street lighting is only fully activated when it is actually needed. This saves energy and reduces light pollution.
Artificial intelligence helps
By using artificial intelligence, the "Open Urban Data Platform" contributes to an optimised calculation basis and thus to resource savings. The scientific support provided by Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences ensures that the findings from the test phase are well-founded and reproducible. The project is focussing on heavily frequented areas such as the north-south axis of Rodgau and the area around the Georg Büchner School, among others, in order to achieve the greatest possible benefit.
The city of Rodgau uses thermal imaging technology for traffic sensors, especially in public spaces, which offers enormous advantages. This is because thermal imaging systems detect the infrared energy (heat) emitted by all people, objects and materials. This thermal imaging sensor technology can also see through total darkness, difficult weather conditions, smoke and haze, resulting in stable counting quality even under difficult weather conditions.
"A really great tool and truly the pulse of the city of Rodgau"
Another major advantage is the fact that it is technically impossible to collect personal data. The lighting stock in the city of Rodgau is therefore being transferred across technologies and generations into a reliable control system that responds dynamically to the respective demand and establishes a link with the "Smart City" theme with a high degree of flexibility and maximum future security.
Further smart city projects in the planning stage
In addition, further smart city projects can be integrated into the overall system, thus providing the potential for the increasing use of AI in order to further optimise this form of control as part of a self-learning system and adapt it to requirements. With the "Open Urban Data Platform", the interoperability of systems is to be achieved, which not only enables the integration and evaluation of data, but also allows the interaction of sensors, luminaires and control systems with this as a central link. The degree of innovation of the project is thus increased through the implementation of various forms of sensor technology and the linking of all systems.
In addition to the automated control of the lights, the traffic and road data can be made available to other administrative units and road traffic authorities via corresponding specialised dashboards. This creates data-driven added value that supports traffic planning and traffic control with real-time data, for example, or provides the winter road maintenance service with data from the road condition sensors, which provide information on snow and ice, among other things. In this way, the city benefits from the data obtained not only from optimised luminaire control throughout the city, but also in other areas of administration that have nothing to do with street lighting.
In the long term, the city of Rodgau's plan envisages further steps, such as the integration of traffic data to optimise traffic flow and the implementation of a smart parking guidance system. These measures will be implemented successively and will help to develop Rodgau into a modern, networked and sustainably smart city.
Go directly to the urban data platform at rodgau.urbanpulse.de!