It is a system that enables both remote control and monitoring, as well as the detection of alarms, measurement of class 1 energy and GPS geolocation of the public lightning luminaires.
FAQ
What is a remote management system?
How does it work?
The architectural graph offers a screenshot of the system.
There exist two different control modes:
- Individual Control: Nodes are installed in each luminaire.
- Control per circuit: a controller is installed in the cabinet to enable the control of a group of luminaires connected to the circuit.
The nodes and the cabinet controllers gather all operative data of the luminaires (alarms, voltage, current, etc.) and send these data to the central system. Such central system may be hosted by Smartmation or by the client’s infrastructure. The light points are remotely configurated, monitored, and controlled.
Are data securely protected?
Yes, all types of communications are secure and are encrypted with symmetric and asymmetric passwords (same security level as for home banking) depending on the preferred communication technology. Additionally, data are hosted in Amazon and/or Azure, where several daily backups are executed.
What is the advantage of having a GPS in each node?
The GPS has proved to be a key tool to avoid human errors during configuration and maintenance, as it enables the automatic geolocation of each device. The operators of systems with no incorporated GPS make a huge operative effort to correct these types of situations.
What is the advantage of having a class I certified meter?
By adding a Class I certified meter, Municipalities are enabled to negotiate with energy suppliers and choose the option of paying for actual electricity usage instead of paying flat tariffs. This aspect is essential for Municipalities that choose dimmer to cut energy costs.
How are the nodes intercommunicated and how do they communicate with the central system?
The field devices (nodes and cabinet controllers) are communicated with the central system through the most widely known communication technologies in IoT applications:
- NBIoT/CatM1/2G through several telephone operators in Latin America.
- 6LowPan sub GHz communication in ISM band over IEEE 802.15.4g and IPV6 routing, using Cisco CGR-1240 routers and Cisco FND network server.
- LoRaWAN, sub GHz communication in ISM band using Kerlink gateways and alike, and Orbiwise or Lora.IO network servers.
- IEE 802.15.4 Sub GHz communication in ISM band using Smartmation Hubs.
How many nodes per hub or getaway can be installed?
Depending on the communication technology used by the nodes, there are multiple ways in which the nodes can communicate with the control center.
- IEEE 802.15.4 up to 1.000 nodes por hub can be installed.
- 6LoWPan up to 500 nodes por hub/gateway can be installed.
- LoRaWAN accepts up to 500 nodes per Gateway.
- NB-IoT / LTE Cat M1 / 2G nodes directly communicates with the control center making hubs or gateways redundant.
How is the number of necessary hubs/getaways calculated?
Depending on the communication technology used, the calculation basis for the number of nodes per hub/getaway may vary.
The calculation
The number of the hubs/gateways needed for the IEEE 802.15.4 technologies and its different variants G, 6LowPAN and LoRaWAN must be calculated based on an a map that includes all the luminaires’ geolocation; however, in order to make an approximate calculation of the hubs/gateways needed for a specific project, it can be stated that the maximum number of luminaires connected to each hub/gateway should never be higher than 1,000 in the case of IEEE 802.15.4 technologies. As for LoRaWANy 6LoWPAN, the suggested number devices is 500. As one of the important considerations, it is necessary to avoid the existence of obstacles such as buildings, embankments, etc. between the hub/gateway and the nearest luminaire and to leave more than 200 meters between two luminaires connected to the same hub.
As for the nodes and cabinet controllers NB-IoT, the concept of hub/gateway does not apply because each device is connected with the central system by means of a cellphone network.
What is protection against loss of neutral?
In the cities, it has been evidenced that most of LED lighting artefact burnouts are not caused by lightning but by human errors that take place while affecting maintenance of the electricity network, more precisely, when the neutral is released in a 220 VAC installation, voltage may raise at 380 VAC on a constant basis, which leads to all the connected devices burnt out. Smartmation remote management node includes a system that protects the luminaire’s driver and LEDs in such situations, and it is not degraded after repeated interventions.
Once the nodes and the hub/gateways have been installed, can they be updated remotely?
Yes, all Smartmation products can be updated when new software and firmware is available, which translates into the possibility of improving installed products over time.
What happens if the central system or the cellphone network is down? Do luminaires work the same?
Yes, each node is equipped with an astronomical clock and a light sensor that enables its operation in a completely autonomous mode, even when the central system is not available.
If the central system is down, is data on the node’s electrical consumption lost?
No, the nodes have an internal memory that stores up to 10 days of consumption measurements, and once the communication with the central system is re-established, the nodes will unfold all data stored during the period with no communication.
Do clients need to pay for cellphone data plans?
No, Smartmation manages and activates the data plans as part of its integral service.
If I decide on Smartmation hosting service, where are data stored?
Smartmation hired servers in Amazon, where data is stored and protected; however, clients have access ’s services where data is hosted and protected. However, clients also have access to a series of API’s to obtain data through open and documented interfaces (web services).
Can I host my own data?
Yes, if that is the client’s decision, Smartmation will install and maintain the software in the client’s infrastructure. This service has an additional fee.
Can I see the status of the lighting infrastructure in real time?
Yes, you can. This will make the planning and execution of preventive and corrective actions easier, thus reducing maintenance costs.
Should the nodes be configurated before they start working?
No, each node is equipped with an incorporated photocell that allows the luminaire’s ON/OFF actions since the very same moment it is connected, even before its initial configuration.
Does the software keep a log of users’ activities?
Yes, each of the actions performed by the users is recorded in the log and such information can be visualized by the system’s administrator later.
Can users’ permissions be restricted?
Yes, the system enables the granting of visualization and operation permissions for each of the software functions, thus restricting the access, at group or user level, depending on the user’s profile.
