Lighting technology will be at the heart of urban life in 2030, helping deliver more sustainable and better-connected smart cities.
60% of the world’s population is predicted to be living in cities by 2030. To prepare for this massive urban growth, technology companies are developing ‘Internet of Things’, or ‘IOT’, services for smart cities.
Alongside the upcoming technologies that will define city life in 2030, is smart, connected, LED lighting, which has the potential to transform everyday experiences.
A city’s lighting infrastructure will offer enormous potential to be part of a city-wide network capable of acquiring data and delivering information and services to and from millions of devices, from garbage bins to autonomous vehicles.
Take a look at the four ways lighting technology will help deliver the smart cities and urban life of 2030:

1.  Eco city farming
Beneath the city and in unused spaces, urban farms that use little water can grow plants and vegetables sustainably – reducing the distance between the farm and your fork.
LED lighting has proven successful in aiding growth of plants and crops.

2.  Linked street lighting
Connected LED street lights provide highly energy-efficient, quality light. And they are also sensor nodes on an information highway. In 2030, connected street lights could stream data between millions of devices.
Connected lighting infrastructure collects and distributes data and can therefore improve city life, such as light; traffic, air quality, public safety, parking and other location-based services.
A soon-to-be connected street lighting system in Jakarta is one of the largest in the world, with 89,414 LED lamps and notifications that will warn officers when they are broken.

3. Individualized living
Homes in 2030 will feature lighting that is able to synchronise with everything from the door bell to the television and music, and will be fully adjustable to individual preferences. It will know its inhabitants needs, complement their lifestyle, and keep them safe.
Connected lighting enables consumers to control their home lighting from their phones, smart watches and wifi.
Although consumers might not be ready for connected homes just yet, there’s no doubt that it is a very exciting innovation.

4. Daylight underground
Lack of space will compel cities to extend public spaces underground, an easy transition is made possible by lighting that mimics natural daylight.
The digital lighting system can send positional data to help drones navigate and deliver items, while responsive light walls display art and foster citizen interaction and creativity.