Singapore-based technology company ST Engineering’s electronics division has been awarded a contract to conduct a proof of concept trial (POC) in Hong Kong that will involve the deployment of multi-purpose lamp posts (MPLP) to support the city-state’s smart city initiative.
The team from STE’s electronics sector will install customized multi-purpose lampposts (street lights) in Kowloon East, Hong Kong’s Smart City Pilot Area. The MPLPs will be interconnected with a telecommunication network to form an Internet of Things (IoT) backbone. Making use of IoT sensors fixed on the street lights, the MPLP will enable real-time collection of city data, such as people and/or vehicle flow-related information and data on weather, air quality, temperature, parking availability, and flooding and other incidents, for city management and the support of various applications for Hong Kong’s smart city initiatives.
The MPLPs will also provide services such as wi-fi hotspots, electric vehicle (EV) charging facilities, information dashboard for maps and directions, real-time traffic updates, and car parking space vacancy information to residents.
Work on the POC trial started in June and will last till December 2019, with the long-term aim of enhancing the efficiency of city services and operations. The use of renewable energy to power the multi-purpose street lights will also be adopted at one of the trial sites and evaluated for its potential benefits.
The POC trial is Hong Kong’s first step toward enabling smart city applications by making use of street lighting infrastructure to support the deployment of a robust and resilient wireless sensor network. The street lighting infrastructure uses the IoT ecosystem to facilitate seamless data exchange and analytics, offering deeper insights for predictive operations and maintenance.
STE’s electronics division has an extensive track record on smart street lighting and efficient utility management, having deployed more than 15 million wireless sensors in global urban cities across Canada, France, Israel, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA.
The company’s existing WISX Smart Street Lighting system provides an end-to-end smart city solution on a single platform, with the ability to deliver full real-time awareness of street lights’ performance while intelligently monitoring and controlling them remotely in response to varying environmental conditions.
The system supports automated light management through the use of luminosity and proximity sensors, offering a more responsive and efficient maintenance regime with reduced downtime and energy consumption.
“This program goes beyond installing street lights for smart lighting services. It leverages technology to transform street lights into smart infrastructure that will enable smart services to be delivered to the residents in Hong Kong,” explained Ravinder Singh, president of electronics at ST Engineering.
“Having successfully deployed 15 million sensors globally for street lighting, water and energy management, we are excited by this opportunity to extend our technology and expertise to Hong Kong in its smart city journey.”
