Lighting the future with Liverpool's Smart Traffic Adaptive Lighting

Liverpool City Council, UK

Liverpool City Council, in collaboration with Signify and McCann Ltd, are implementing a cutting-edge Traffic Adaptive Lighting system to enhance urban safety, improve energy efficiency, and modernise the city’s lighting infrastructure. This pilot project, funded by the Department for Transport’s LiveLabs2 program, positions Liverpool as a leader in smart city innovation, with the potential to roll out the system city-wide.

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Challenges

Liverpool City Council encounters several ongoing challenges that highlight the need for an adaptive lighting solution:

High energy consumption - major traffic routes consume large amounts of energy to maintain consistent lighting levels during the hours between dusk and dawn, regardless of traffic density.
Safety concerns on match days - routes leading to Everton Stadium experience significant surges in pedestrian and vehicle traffic during events, requiring brighter, adaptive lighting for safety and crowd management.
Maintenance inefficiencies - the council currently relies on public reports to identify lighting failures, leading to delays in repairs and potential safety risks.

These challenges necessitate a dynamic, efficient lighting system that addresses varying traffic conditions while adhering to British lighting standards.

The Solution

Installed by McCann Ltd, Signify delivers a state-of-the-art Traffic Adaptive Lighting system that integrates IoT technologies, advanced luminaires, and smart sensors. The solution includes:

Luminaires and IoT Devices:

Signify LumiStreet Gen2 Luminaires and Cellular CMS (Central Management System) nodes are installed to provide flexible, responsive lighting control and monitoring.
Signify’s Interact City powers the project, enabling advanced lighting management, and data-driven decision-making.
Motion cameras continuously monitor traffic density allowing the CMS to adjust the lighting levels dynamically.

Smart Lighting Capabilities:

The system adapts lighting levels in real time based on traffic flow. During peak times, such as rush hours or match days, lighting is automatically elevated to ensure safety. During low-traffic periods, such as early hours of the morning, lighting is dimmed to conserve energy.

Proactive Maintenance:

The Interact platforms’ incident detection capabilities automatically identify lighting failures, enabling the council to address them quickly and efficiently, without waiting for public reports.

“We’re proud to be among the first UK local authorities to deploy traffic-adaptive lighting at scale, this investment is helping us reduce energy consumption, improve operational efficiency, and build a more sustainable, future-ready city. The upgrade responds to the evolving needs of residents while supporting the ambitions of a growing city, delivering smarter infrastructure that enhances safety, efficiency, and the overall urban environment for everyone.”

Ali Zahran, Principle Street Lighting Engineer at Liverpool City Council

A potential city-wide rollout

If the pilot continues to perform successfully, Liverpool is poised to become the first city in the UK to adopt a Traffic Adaptive Lighting policy across all major road networks. This forward-thinking approach would establish Liverpool as a leader in smart city technology, serving as a model for other municipalities worldwide.

Why this project stands out

Innovative technology:

The Traffic Adaptive Lighting system is one of the first of its kind in the UK, highlighting Liverpool’s commitment to embracing IoT technologies for urban development.

Sustainability:

By reducing energy consumption and lowering carbon emissions, the project aligns with global sustainability goals and demonstrates Liverpool’s dedication to environmental responsibility.

Improved public safety:

The system ensures well-lit routes during high-traffic periods and proactively addresses lighting failures, prioritizing the safety and security of Liverpool’s residents and visitors.

“We’re proud to be working alongside Liverpool City Council and Signify to ensure the city’s street lighting infrastructure is safe, reliable, and future-ready. Delivering this project as part of our maintenance service for Liverpool is a major win for our business as it reinforces our approach to collaboration, innovation, and consistency. This installation is a step in the right direction towards making Liverpool 2040 a reality.”

John McCann, Managing Director at McCann Ltd

Conclusion

Liverpool City Council is leading the way in smart urban lighting with its Traffic Adaptive Lighting pilot. By integrating Signify LumiStreet Gen2 luminaires, Cellular CMS nodes, and the Interact City System, the city is addressing key challenges such as energy efficiency, public safety, and maintenance efficiency. The project not only enhances the citys' infrastructure but also aligns with broader goals of sustainability and innovation. If expanded citywide, Liverpool will set a new benchmark for smart city solutions.

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