The idea of smart lamp posts was born in a discussion with Skellefteå municipality. It is resource-intensive to check that all lampposts are working, and have not been damaged by collision.
We did a test with sensors that sensed power consumption and an accelerometer that sensed collisions.
The discussion further led to us, in collaboration with the municipality and Skellefteå Kraft, setting up a stretch of smart lamp posts between Campushallen and Parkbron in Skellefteå. Skellefteå municipality contributed with part of the investment and installation. Skellefteå Kraft contributed with fiber communication.
In the lamp posts posts there is radar to detect passing, (to control the light), WiFi, and space to connect your own sensors. Some poles also have cameras and speakers.
Lamp posts are a good infrastructure for IoT. BI Nordic today uses the lamp posts to test its solutions for mining applications. The lamp posts are more accessible than the mine, but offer a similar physical environment.
Smart lamp posts could be a source of income for municipalities. They could sell the service of placing sensors or 5G base stations in the lamp posts.
