Competition for Enhanced IoT Platforms Drives Alliances in Lighting and Networks

The evolution of lighting systems as a backbone for information networks is getting a boost from new alliances, including some involving major lighting companies and some of the world’s technology giants.

LED lighting manufacturer Cree Inc., Durham, N.C., introduced a new version of its SmartCast technology keyed to Power Over Ethernet (PoE) technology and making use of Cisco Systems’ Digital Ceiling framework.

Cree’s SmartCast PoE embeds intelligence into LED lighting systems. The Cisco Digital Ceiling framework connects disparate systems into a single IP network to create smart, more secure, seamlessly connected building systems. Cree is part of the Digital Ceiling partner community, a network of partners working to enhance the traditional workforce through the connection of intelligent things to create new user experiences, lower total costs and enable business analytics.

Cree applied SmartCast technology to a PoE infrastructure to solve the inherent commissioning complexities of deploying network-powered smart lighting within buildings. Cree’s series of SmartCast lights, light switches and dimmers operates with Cisco’s standards-based PoE-powered network architecture.

Acuity Brands launched a pilot program for lighting-based parking technology in cooperation with Simon, a commercial real estate developer, at Simon properties Lenox Square in Atlanta and Florida Mall in Orlando. The pilot will test a new system using outdoor LED lighting networks to monitor parking lot vehicle counts and occupancy data to facilitate the efficient management of traffic and parking.

Parking lot density will be monitored via existing Acuity Brands lighting fixtures installed throughout the two malls. Sensors will be added to the fixtures and will transmit occupancy data to an online dashboard, creating heat maps for visualizing parking density and highlighting locations where parking is available.

A later phase of the pilot will use the occupancy data to create a customer-facing parking app that could be ready by the end of 2016.

Philips Lighting partnered up with Cisco and Dutch utility Alliander on a smart lighting project in Amsterdam. The three firms joined a private-public group called Amsterdam Smart City, Dutch telecommunications giant KPN, and others to install a connected lighting scheme and public Wi-Fi at Hoekenrodeplein, a large modern square with shops, hotels, and music that’s near Amsterdam Arena — the city’s main soccer stadium and concert venue.

The intelligent lighting system taps wired and wireless information technology networks to allow users to remotely and dynamically change lighting brightness and color as well as embedding sensors into luminaires and lamp posts to gather data on crowds, traffic, parking conditions and  air quality. That data is then fed to systems and users to enhance their experience at Hoekenrodeplein.