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What to Do for Successful Road Lighting?

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The cities we live in are growing day by day and spreading over large areas. With this growth, we also observe an accelerating development in transportation networks. For example, the construction of a new airport means that new roads will be built and a new transportation network will be created. Along with new transportation routes, new road lighting is also being experimented with. New lighting systems are being used not only on new roads but also on many old roads. The technology of 50 years ago and the technology of today are very different. Developing technology, growing cities and many other factors have enabled road lighting systems to change and improve.

There is no single element of good road lighting. When developing lighting solutions, attention should be paid to the environment where the products will be located, the width of the street and road, the height of the surrounding buildings, the density of the surrounding trees, and the safety of pedestrians and drivers. So, what should be considered in good road lighting? Let’s take a look together;

1) Use Smart LED Lighting Products

With the growth of cities and the development of technology, energy saving is on the agenda of city administrations more than ever. With LED technology, it is easier to get maximum efficiency with less expense. Although smart cities were once a dream, we can see examples of them today. Smart lighting is a phenomenon that has entered our lives with the concept of smart cities.

So, what is smart lighting? Why should it be used?

In smart lighting, LED lighting products are used instead of the street lamps we know. With this use, energy savings of 50% to 70% are achieved. If this system is combined with smart systems, energy savings can reach up to 80%.

While the use of smart LED lighting saves energy, it also offers the opportunity to adapt to cities that want to transform into smart cities. Thanks to smart LED lighting products, the density on the roads can be measured and where improvements are needed can be identified.

2) The product must have aesthetics in line with the environment

The light level affects the sensitivity of the driver’s perception of surrounding objects. A driver who cannot see enough of the objects around him or her, or who sees more of the road than of the outside, is more likely to make mistakes. If lighting is provided in a proper and healthy way, traffic accidents will decrease. According to CIE (International Commission on Illumination), 5 meters ahead of the road should be illuminated by 50%. Thus, the level of clarity of the surrounding objects provides a view that does not distract the driver’s attention.

3) The Lighting System Should Have a Long Lifespan

The long lifetime of LED lighting poles and luminaires ensures continuity. If frequently deteriorating products are used in road lighting solutions, these products will need to be constantly renewed. This can jeopardize the safety of both pedestrians and drivers. Roads that are not sufficiently illuminated invite traffic accidents. For proper and healthy lighting, it is critical that the LED lighting product has a long lifespan.

4) LED Lighting Fixtures Should Not Create Glare

Adaptation is one of the most important aspects of safety on the road. Glare can tire drivers’ eyes and distract them. Glare can have bad consequences for both pedestrians and drivers.

So what can be done to prevent glare?

When using LED lighting products, care should be taken to ensure that these products are in harmony with the environment. In this way, glare in the image can be prevented. The poles of road lighting are usually located on sidewalks. Therefore, they should be placed in a proper position and angle. A pole mounted in the middle of the sidewalk will restrict the walking path of pedestrians.

5) Full Shaded Luminaire should be used

The luminaire that screens the outdoor lighting lamps in such a way that the light does not go higher than the horizontal plane where they are located is a fully screened luminaire. If the angle of the light coming out of the lamp with the lamp post is below 70 to 90 degrees, it has no use in illuminating the ground. Because it is very far from the ground and is very weak when it reaches the ground. Whether such lighting is used on a crowded road in the city or in an empty field in the countryside, it dazzles drivers and obstructs their vision. According to a study conducted at Istanbul Technical University, 40% of the light emitted by spherical street lighting is emitted directly into upper space.

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