The Future of Roadway Lighting

Traditional approaches to lighting design result in significant over-lighting of roadways and excessive energy usage. Adaptive lighting, which adjusts illumination levels based on the needs of roadway users, offers an approach to overcome these challenges. It employs a design methodology in which the light output of a system can be reduced or dimmed when traffic on highways or sidewalks lessens.This article describes how adaptive lighting may be implemented while maintaining the safety of road users and how agencies in San Jose, CA, and Cambridge, MA, are deploying this technology.