EXPERT PANEL LIGHTING

In issue’s

Bennett regional director UK & Ireland

Urbis Schréder

Gary is an accomplished strategic thought leader driving technology and service solutions across multiple local authority and private city applications.

Working across industries and geographies in global product marketing and currently as managing director for Urbis Schréder, he has launched Logic which combines intelligent and scalable lighting solutions to openly and interoperably connect a city with spaces, assets and communities.

Thomas head of applications & solutions, Logic

Urbis Schréder

Still passionate about lighting after 25 years within the wider industry, Clare joined Urbis Schréder in 2019 to help define and deliver their connected strategy through their Logic approach. Using her long track record in delivering major and connected projects for lighting manufacturers, controls companies and from the client perspective, Clare and her team take a holistic through-life approach rather than selling a product or technology. Working collaboratively with local authorities and other stakeholders they look to deliver smart, connected and sustainable solutions that help create spaces and places people love to be in.

This experience was used to develop the white paper and CPD on ‘Dark Skies or Safer Streets’, which Clare originally wrote to start a debate around how we light our spaces and places. As well achieving that, it has also meant Clare is now actively participating in lighting strategy, safer streets initiatives, green infrastructure projects and other related smart solutions across the public realm.

Grey head of strategic sales

Urbis Schréder

Phil has worked for Urbis Schréder in a sales capacity for the last 30 years dealing with local authorities, consultants, contractors and end users. Working across the exterior lighting arena, he has been involved in delivering numerous high-profile projects covering all forms of exterior lighting. Digital connected lighting is the way forward with a major focus on energy conservation. Phil is instrumental in driving this strategy along with his team for Schréder.

Good lighting is well-known to reduce crime and improve safety on the streets, we asked the panellists why good lighting was so important. Gary said: “Good lighting can have several impacts to safety on streets. With the correct design and quality of the light distribution you cannot only provide the feeling of safety, thus attracting more people to that area but also provide users with the ability to see the way ahead and opportunities for alternate routes and refuge should there be a need to.” However, Clare has a slightly different opinion: “I’d maybe disagree that lighting on its own helps reduce all types of crime, however there is definitely evidence that shows that it has an impact on crimes against the person, for example robbery. Whether the statistics support it or not (and there is definitely quite a bit of debate around the topic), what is clear is that most people perceive a well-lit space to be safer than a poorly lit one, and so are more likely to use or spend time in it. We’re working really closely with a number of local authorities at the moment to support them with Safer Streets initiatives, and I think one of the main learnings is that there can be a big difference between compliant, safe and good lighting.”

Energy crisis

In current times, it is impossible to ignore the energy crisis and the squeeze on local authority budgets. In light of this, conversation turned to how we can make sure the lights stay on. Phil believes that the focus should be on energy

Panel of Experts

conservation: “Energy conservation is the key to making sure we keep the lights on and citizens safe. By using lighting control, authorities can ensure that they are providing the correct level of lighting where it is required rather than either leaving people in the dark or lighting up empty spaces. The current charging system also needs to be reviewed, at present there is no benefit to Local Authorities who provide lighting on demand rather than a fixed dimming regime.”

Gary highlighted a dynamic control solution: “Moving to a dynamic control solution is the key to balancing the energy savings that moved local authorities to LED lighting and creating a pathway to energy conservation that will not only help to protect the inflationary challenges but also provide smarter services and benefits to the local authority and citizens in the future. With only 40 per cent of local authorities moving to control when their Ledification started, this is a real opportunity to continue the decarbonisation and enhancements of their spaces and places strategies.”

On this topic, Clare said: “I agree with both Gary and Phil that connected lighting is a logical building block to a smart city infrastructure, but the challenge is that we’re currently at the start of a journey where the destination is not yet clear. As mentioned earlier, we need to consider lighting not as a function but a connected service that can enable or disable other local authority policies or services. I think the other challenge is that it will require a different, more collaborative approach within and between local government departments, stakeholders, the community and service experts to deliver spaces and places that are not only fit for today, but help support a sustainable future.”

Boosts to the local area

Lighting can help users of the space feel more connected to and more comfortable in their local area. Nearly three years on from the start of the pandemic and towns and cities still recovering from the economic effects, how can lighting help to boost an area’s nightlife? According to our panellists, the key is to look at the situation holistically.

Clare said: “This touches on two elements I think – both how we help people navigate round their neighbourhood or local area, and how we encourage people to spend time in those places and spaces too. What we’ve seen from the active mobility schemes we’ve been involved with is if you provide well-designed infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling then people will vote with their feet (or wheels!). With regards to boosting footfall and supporting the recovery or regeneration of our urban centres, connected lighting infrastructure is a key consideration, not just by making the place/space seem safer or more attractive, but also it can help support the delivery of other services; attracting new businesses to a location, or enabling local markets, or supporting clean air neighbourhoods. The challenge here for local government is to think holistically; how can the possibilities of connected lighting be better aligned to strategy and other council services?”

Gary said: “The key is not to look at the lights as just connected but as a connected platform that delivers insights that can drive new services, information and the ability to raise the night-time economy value. When you walk the streets with a local authorities team you see that each space has different needs from safety to ecology and entertainment. It is important to also understand the community needs such as the ‘15-minute rule’ so that when you design an area you consider these aspects. It’s not just the function of the light but also the aesthetics of the design blending colour with sound and projected images that can lift something to become a welcoming experience.”

Phil added: “Lighting is a facilitator for night-time activity, being connected offers the opportunity to promote a feeling of safety and wellbeing which in turn encourages the use of towns and cities spaces and places. This is not just related to lighting, being connected covers a whole range of other services from directed CCTV and Help Points to availability of parking spaces and digital transport timetables.”

Attracting visitors

Following on from the subject of encouraging locals to use public spaces, we discussed how improved lighting can help to attract visitors from elsewhere in the country or even abroad to visit our tourist destinations and cultural sites and boost the local economy. Gary began by saying: “Lighting is a key part of many experiences enhancing landmarks and providing welcoming safe areas, but these can range from historic to dark skies and even ecology to support the local wildlife and fauna. Take Wembley as an example, it is a stadium for events be it sports or music, but it is also a residential and cultural/retail/transport hub.

Lighting needs to support all these events. The right connected lighting solutions and designs can attract value at multiple levels enhancing the local value driven by lighting experience.”

Clare agrees: “Lighting is a great way of attracting people to places, especially where lighting is part of the experience. There are major events, such as the biennial Lumiere festival sponsored by Durham CC which reached an audience of c1 million people and had an economic impact of £37m since 2009. But it can be at a smaller scale, such as providing illumination to local features, such as Eastgate Clock Tower in Chester where the lighting can help provide a community focal point. Olympic Way Wembley is a really hard-working location – not only is it the main access for thousands of people on match day at the stadium, but it is also the heart of a new urban community being developed around the stadium, and the main reason it is such a successful space is that it had flexibility and control designed in to support those conflicting requirements.”

Rather than just focussing on safety or illuminating buildings, Phil highlighted events such as light shows which can bring people to the area: “Lighting can enhance the local environment, it’s not just about illuminating buildings. Light shows in our cities e.g. Son et Lumière at the Grande Place in Brussels is a spectacular event which attracts thousands of visitors into the centre of Brussels every evening. By offering a safe and well-lit environment, citizens are encouraged to stay and benefit the night-time economy. Connected control offers the authority to ‘turn the lighting down’ when the central areas become less populated ensuring that energy is not wasted, providing enhanced lighting levels when the public are not there to appreciate them.”

Blending in

On the other hand, we also discussed blending lighting into the local environment, for example, so it is in line with an architectural style. How can we ensure that lighting is not out of place or unsightly in a particular area?

Gary said: “Lighting design is a critical factor in supporting a vision balancing the technical and architectural space needs. The design should be adding value to the space or object it lights both illuminating but also obtaining the correct levels that deliver the vision. We always work closely with the E

 customer and as we strive to ensure the correct balance we utilise 3D rendering and even VR to immerse the customer in the space so they can experience the lighting levels and we do not compromise the architectural or aesthetics of any space or place. This can be important for the community support as well.”

Clare said: “Definitely, during the night we need the lighting to see, but during the day we see the lighting, and it’s getting this balance between the functional and the aesthetic that is critical, and that requires not only great design input but a clear understanding of both the space and its users. Looking at Olympic Way, the lighting is clearly part of the whole experience, but more importantly other services – CCTV, people counting, data connectivity – have been seamlessly integrated within those structures, rather than being attached afterwards on an ad-hoc basis (as I’m sure we’ve all seen).”

Phil added: “Lighting is an art as well as a science, we are blessed in the UK with some exceptional lighting designers. Utilising professionals reduces the risk of ‘bad’ lighting schemes.”

Looking after the environment

An important consideration should be the environment and conservation. How can we make sure we take the environment and conservation into account? How can we make sure that the use of lighting does not have a detrimental effect on the local wildlife?

Clare said: “The first question we should always ask is do we need to provide lighting or not. If we do, we should ensure that we use good quality luminaires in a lighting scheme designed by a competent person, and then on top of that, add in a way of controlling the lighting so that the lighting is only provided when needed. Good products underpinned by good design will minimise the amount of light pollution (basically the light going where it isn’t needed or wanted), and there is some evidence that warmer colour temperatures, or tuneable white solutions can also help mitigate ecological impact. Actually the first sensorcontrolled schemes we were involved in were driven by trying to find a balance between minimal impact on environmentally sensitive areas, whilst also enabling and supporting an accessible active mobility strategy, and we’re now building on the success of those.”

Gary added: “Poor lighting design results in energy waste, light spill and light intrusion. In contrast, responsible design ensures that users benefit from clear visibility, without environmental damage. Communities enjoy visual comfort and a perception of safety, with the minimum of light pollution. At Schréder, we’ve long developed specific optics with variable photometric distribution, ensuring the right light is directed in the right place, at the right time. Having an adjustable system means that lighting requirements can be adjusted in future, too. With real-time input from sensors, local authorities can work out what they need and plan accordingly - and make future adjustments by changing the programming, rather than installing new lights! That means savings on energy, maintenance and installation, plus the ability to adapt quickly to sudden changes.”

Following on from this, over recent years, light pollution has become ever more discussed. How can we still provide lighting, but also mitigate light pollution and take into account protected areas and the privacy of those living nearby?

Clare said: “The impact of lighting on dark skies is a major topic, and has led to legislation changes in Europe aimed to reduce the amount of light pollution. As per my response to the previous question, the first question we should always ask is whether we should be lighting something or not. If we should then definitely it’s about good design, using good quality luminaires which can be controlled.”

Net Zero

A major focus for local authorities at the moment is Net Zero. With a focus on Net Zero, how can local authorities reduce the carbon footprint of their lighting? What are the incentives of doing so? Phil said: “Connected lighting gives an authority control over how and when they deliver lighting to their citizens. It goes back to the fundamental principal of providing the right light in the right place at the right time. Authorities are not incentivised to do this under the current Elexon charging system, significant work is required within the exterior lighting industry to rectify this situation.”

Gary added: “Decarbonisation and energy can go hand in hand linking not only to the lighting but the support, maintenance, mobility, efficiency, and future values that the lighting and control platform can provide. With energy prices continuing to be a challenge the fact right now is that local authorities could even replace their 1st level LED lights with controls and achieve regular 60 per cent savings. Plus, with the ability to see real time control and efficiency realised.”

Clare concluded: “Decarbonisation of lighting infrastructure can be done in a number of ways, but to get year on year reductions it will need to be connected and controlled. Not only is there a financial benefit from doing this, but through the selection of the right technology they can also build in flexibility to allow the infrastructure to change and adapt to changing needs. Obviously with the current energy crisis there is an immediate financial benefit to energy savings, but using the information and insights brought back by a smart lighting network can support reductions in scouting or wasted maintenance visits. Better planned, connected lighting infrastructure can also enable the provision and integration of other services, but in order to do this we need to take a much more collaborative approach.”

On this topic, we also discussed how lighting can be used to encourage people out of their cars and toward more active transport. Gary started by saying: “Lighting can provide safe environments attracting people to leave their cars and walk or cycle and with the ability to include environmental monitoring. 5G Wifi, CCTV, call buttons and other technologies connected and embodied in the lighting infrastructure they can now achieve more of a journey to sustainability utilising technology to improve the mobility. Urban planners are more and more considering the journey and the connectivity of those spaces and places with lighting being a core eco system of that journey.”

Phil highlighted safety in his response: “Lighting in conjunction with other measures can be used to encourage people out of their cars and move towards other forms of transport. To this end lighting should form part of any town/city transport plan and not be an add-on at the end. Creating safe and usable routes encourages change, lighting is a part of this.”

Clare added: “Encouraging people out of cars isn’t just about the drive to Net Zero, it’s also about reducing air pollution and the associated risk to public health too, however despite, this the perception of ‘Low Traffic Neighbourhoods’ is not being universally welcomed by residents. For me, it has to be considered as part of a holistic approach. Lighting is key to how people navigate round a place or a town, and logically should be fully aligned with both planning and local transport policy. Too often however lighting is seen either as an engineering function or an afterthought. There are a couple of main strands to this. As Gary mentioned earlier, the concept of the 15-minute neighbourhood is a good first step – ensuring that most of the daily services a resident needs (work, education, health, retail, leisure) are within a 15-minute walk or cycle ride, as that will significantly reduce the number of unnecessary car journeys. Next is to a clear active mobility strategy with provision for accessible, safe (and ideally traffic free) routes that encourage people to switch – ‘build it and they will cycle’ was some of the social media comment on one of the greenway schemes we’ve been involved with.”

Smart cities

Finally, we briefly touched on the topic of smart cities. Gary said: “Lighting is a critical backbone to a city’s smart strategy with its ability to link the physical enabling technologies to digital transformation. Lighting is creating a new Phygital landscape encompassing communications, sensors for mobility, environment and safety that act as a vital ecosystem foundation of a city’s smart strategy while delivering substantial decarbonisation. As urban planners and cities look at their spaces and places the ability to have a circular dynamic view of the cities’ assets in one place so they can manage this foundation from lighting to achieve the vision but also use machine learning and AI evolution as the cities needs change. It’s not just smart lighting, it’s Logic.”

Phil added: “Connected lighting should be a critical building block of any ‘smart city’ structure, the ability to react to changing circumstances in real time is essential. Some of the older CMS solutions are holding the market back, latency in reaction to triggers of five minutes or longer was seen to be acceptable. This situation no longer applies if real time occurrences be that traffic flow, pedestrian movement or reaction to an incident which requires the lighting to increase immediately i.e. crime scene investigation or emergency reaction to unforeseen events.”

Clare concluded: “We’re already delivering connected lighting that can be adapted or changed in real time, either by sensor, or by an emergency ‘on’ button, and we’re already providing schemes where the lighting adapts in real time according to data inputs, such as live weather reports, or traffic flows.

“I agree with both Gary and Phil that connected lighting is a logical building block to a smart city infrastructure, but the challenge is that we’re currently at the start of a journey where the destination is not yet clear. As mentioned earlier, we need to consider lighting not as a function but a connected service that can enable or disable other local authority policies or services. I think the other challenge is that it will require a different, more collaborative approach within and between local government departments, stakeholders, the community and service experts to deliver spaces and places that are not only fit for today, but help support a sustainable future.” L