The 2016 edition of Australia’s largest annual Smart Lighting Summit, with smart and sustainable lighting as a central theme on the agenda, is set to feature both locally and internationally renowned lighting experts and speakers, highlighting latest trends and developments within the lighting sector.
The summit has secured a quality lineup of presenters, including Light and Culture Program Advisor Rik van Stiphout from the City of Eindhoven where the multinational corporation Philips was founded 1891.
Eindhoven, the Netherlands’ ‘city of light’, considered to be at the forefront of energy and lighting innovation infrastructure, is one of the first cities in Europe to develop its urban lighting system into an integrated ‘Smart Light Grid’ in an effort to conserve energy and increase efficiency.
Eindhoven’s lighting vision has paved the way for public lighting ideas and research to be put into practice. The city’s ‘Strijp-S’ area now boasts light-enabled bus lanes and pedestrian crossings as well as easily adaptable public illumination scenes implemented on main streets. The area has quickly developed into one of the most sought-after investment areas in the city.
According to the architect behind the city of Eindhoven’s lighting vision Mr Stiphout, “lighting is not only in the DNA of our city, but also in the people. In order to become a real lasting sustainable city, one has to dare to look into the future … not only [at] the environmental or cost saving side of it”.
Mr Stiphout will deliver a keynote presentation on the city of Eindhoven’s smart street lighting journey at the Australian Smart Lighting Summit.
Reinforcing the commitment to developing innovative and intelligent lighting solutions, Australian Smart Lighting Summit Knowledge Partner, Ironbark Sustainability’s Business Manager Alexi Lynch, forecasts LED as the future of energy efficient lighting in Australia.
Large scale LED projects have already been effectively implemented in Victoria where only seven out of 79 councils have not yet undertaken an LED changeover.
“We’ll see more LED projects replicated throughout Australia and more states and councils wanting to jump on board.”
While “smart controls and cities are the flavour of the month”, Mr Lynch believes that project innovation is key, with Ironbark Sustainability eager to replicate successful residential LED street lighting projects in areas where there has been a lack of progress, especially in Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, which will enable councils in these states to cut their energy expenditure and costs.
“It’s an exciting time to be in the lighting industry with massive projects already completed and more exciting projects to come.”
This year’s event will also discuss smart lighting, smart cities and the Internet of Things. It will concentrate on exciting international projects such as a case study of Singapore’s ‘Smart City Lighting Master Plan’ presented by Japan’s Lighting Planners Associate Principal Lighting Designer Kaoru Mende. Mr Mende describes the trend of urban lighting in night environments to have evolved to see safe, beautiful, comfortable and eco-friendly cities.
Wellington’s intelligent street lighting solutions will be presented by New Zealand’s Wellington City Council Team Leader in Strategic Planning, Transport & Waste Operations, Paul Glennie.
Closer to home in Adelaide, Australia’s first intelligent street lighting trial project will also be under discussion from Adelaide City Council’s Team Leader in Business Solutions Sonjoy Ghosh. Summit sponsor NEC is working jointly with the University of Adelaide to roll out this project.
Location: The Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
Date: 6th and 7th of September 2016.
Delegate Choice Awards
This year, the Australian Smart Lighting Summit will include the the Delegate Choice Awards, presenting Summit delegates the opportunity to recognise and reward their peers.
The Most Innovative Product Award will be awarded to the most innovative lighting product, service or solution from among numerous displays at the conference. Delegates will take into consideration how the winning concept takes existing technology to soaring new heights and addresses common lighting constraints such as energy, effectiveness, budget restraints, operation and maintenance.
In the design category, Australian Smart Lighting Summit delegates will vote on the Best Design Award which will be awarded to the product that excels in both uniqueness and functionality, considered the best aesthetically, architecturally and visually.
The two awards will be voted by key industry players and lighting sector experts. The awards will reflect current market trends and perceptions in the smart lighting community. Winners will find recognition among industry peers, lighting bodies and media powerhouses.