Skip to main content

San Diego to deploy smart streetlights

The City of San Diego, California, is partnering with GE to upgrade streetlights in a bid to reduce energy costs by 60 per cent as well as transform them into a connected digital network that can optimise parking and traffic, enhance public safety and track air quality. The City will be installing 3,200 smart sensor nodes that can use real-time anonymous sensor data to direct drivers to open parking spaces, help first responders during emergencies, track carbon emissions and identify intersections that c
February 24, 2017 Read time: 2 mins
The City of San Diego, California, is partnering with GE to upgrade streetlights in a bid to reduce energy costs by 60 per cent as well as transform them into a connected digital network that can optimise parking and traffic, enhance public safety and track air quality.

The City will be installing 3,200 smart sensor nodes that can use real-time anonymous sensor data to direct drivers to open parking spaces, help first responders during emergencies, track carbon emissions and identify intersections that can be improved for pedestrians and cyclists.

The anonymous information from the sensors can be used by developers to create apps and software that can benefit the community.

Additionally, the City will be replacing 14,000 streetlights with more energy efficient versions, which is expected to reduce energy costs by US$2.4 million annually. These streetlights include technology that allows for manually or automatically dimming and brightening in public venues, depending on natural light conditions.

The City expects the project to achieve an estimated 60 per cent reduction in energy. In addition to reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions, the streetlights are also intended to reduce light pollution.

An adaptive control system captures real time interval data, monitoring and notifications for maintenance purposes and also provides GPS coordinates at each fixture. Over the life of each fixture the system automatically ramps up power as needed to meet specified lighting standards.

Related Content

  • Schneider Electric to create smart cities in China
    January 30, 2013
    Schneider Electric is using its expertise in developing smart mobility management systems and smart transportation systems in a collaboration with Chinese cities of Liuzhou and Wuzhou to transform mobility management in these cities and improve urban efficiency by optimising city building administration. Schneider will implement its efficient building management solutions and SmartMobility technology that it says will enable local authorities to reduce current traffic delays by over 35 per cent and achieve
  • US senators pledge $500bn for e-transit 
    March 25, 2021
    Build Green Infrastructure and Jobs Act would have plans to electrify cars, buses and trains
  • The scourge of poor air quality and rising pollution levels and how they can be tackled
    December 20, 2021
    Arguably, air pollution is one of the greatest challenges facing our world today. It impacts people, economies and the environment. It is clear that policymakers must act swiftly to improve air quality. ITS has a huge role to play in providing solutions. Here, Swarco, as a solution provider, shares inside tips on how to use modern ITS to save lives, economies and the environment.
  • Knoxville chooses Siemens for city-wide streetlight retrofit
    September 20, 2017
    Siemens has been chosen by the City of Knoxville, Tennessee to retrofit nearly 30,000 streetlights with new energy efficient light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The retrofit is estimated to cut the City’s streetlight operation budget in half by saving US$2 million annually in energy and maintenance costs and is expected to pay for itself in less than ten years.