Watch Out! Big Brother May be Sitting in Those Street Lamps

UK – National Highways has released details of its current progress as it travels towards providing its 'Digital Roads' programme which, despite a faint whiff of science fiction, actually is exploring some ideas in advance of potential future technology.

Closed circuit television and wireless technology that enables vehicles to communicate is among the kit that could be neatly stored inside the lanterns of street lights alongside the National Highways network. This could enable the existing infrastructure to be employed in the future to push out information on traffic updates, speed limits and diversions, helping vehicles to plan journeys more effectively.

Street lighting is generally viewed as a standalone asset but technology that has emerged in recent years could enable wider use of this vital infrastructure. Bandwidth has restricted air wave transmissions in the past, but with the roll-out of 5G and the IoT (Internet of Things) infrastructures lighting could be equipped with devices such as wireless access points and cameras.

Rather than just spouting off about futuristic plans the authorities have been carrying out a Proof of Concept trial, entitled Illuminate, with lighting units installed on the M40 motorway at junction 15 Longbridge roundabout near Birmingham. The additions were made when, as with most such lighting, the conventional units were being exchanged for improved, greener LED lighting.

Drivers would have been oblivious to the CCTV and communications technology hidden away in the street lamps and the trial passed unnoticed for the five months it ran for last year, successfully proving the concept, with the kit able to communicate data to office equipment and tablet computers.

The implications are vast with the knowledge gained in the trial being used to help shape National Highways’ strategy for managing the Connected and Autonomous (CAV) infrastructure. National Highways is looking for technologies that can effectively support autonomous vehicles so they can push and receive messages across the network.

These messages could be about speed limits, incidents, updates on clearance times, all useful information to help drivers plan their journeys and National Highways’ Innovations Lead for the Midlands, Lisa Maric, said:

“These are exciting times as we progress on our Digital Roads journey with the growth of digital technology and the move to electric, connected and autonomous vehicles that will fundamentally change how we use roads in the future. National Highways is committed to ensuring we are at the forefront of this digital revolution and are preparing the way for the greener and safer roads of tomorrow.

“Initial trials such as Illuminate will help us identify new innovations, technology and methods to meet our digital goals. We were pleased with how Illuminate performed as a proof of concept and the useful knowledge gained as we continue to plan for the roads of the future.”

The trial has been funded through National Highways’ Innovation and Modernisation Fund which is helping to maximise the opportunities offered by developments such as automated vehicles while putting safety at the forefront of emerging technologies. The luminaires, called V-Max, were supplied by manufacturer Holophane while MWay installed the technology inside the luminaires and worked on the software which enables the communications.

No autonomous vehicles were utilised on the network as part of this exercise and National Highways worked with Kier Highways on the Illuminate trial with the company's Project Manager, Carla Vicente, saying:

“Being able to install technology, such as CCTV, while we are replacing street lighting is a more efficient way of working and provides better value for customers. More importantly, it is a safer and less disruptive way of working, reducing the amount of road closures required.

“The Illuminate project was a great example of collaboration across internal Kier teams, our client National Highways, the supply chain and the manufacturer. This proof of concept will feed into other future projects and the learnings will help to deliver more collaborative and sustainable projects which supports National Highways’ Carbon Net Zero targets.”

Photo: Street lighting incorporating technology being deployed on the junction 15 roundabout.