With integrated sensors, connected luminaires can gather data about the usage of illuminated spaces, and send it “upstream” to a database where facility, IT, or lighting system managers can store, analyze, and mine it. System managers can use this intelligence to precisely adjust organizational objectives and spending to maximize efficiency while offering the best possible experiences to users of illuminated spaces. They can arrange to deliver light when, where, and how it’s needed, based on new insight into the activities in illuminated spaces such as The Edge building in Amsterdam.
With integrated wireless communications, connected luminaires can deliver personalized services and in-context information to people in illuminated spaces via specially designed mobile apps. This is especially true indoors, where GPS doesn’t work. If the communications grid is dense enough, a connected lighting system can create a sort of “indoor GPS” that affords the kind of rich experiences commonly delivered by smartphones outdoors. These include wayfinding in a store, mall, campus, office complex, or airport; in-context information about the immediate vicinity, whether product locations, suggestions based on preferences and prior activities, or some kind of alert; and personalized control over the immediate environment.
Because connected luminaires can share information about their status and operations, system managers can do more than switch and dim. They can also monitor the lighting system in real-time, and make real-time management decisions and adjustments to settings and behavior to respond to changing conditions and to maximize operational efficiency.