Greek roads are becoming more energy efficient with a new smart lighting system that automatically adapts based on traffic levels.
The Athens-Patras highway, also known as Motorway 8, is the first in Greece to have this system trialled.
According to Vinci Highways, operator of the road, a section of the 218km highway along the Elefsina to Corinth section now adjusts its lighting to best suit the driving conditions.
This is part of the group’s commitment to achieve operational net-zero emission by 2050 on all its infrastructure of roads, bridges, highways and tunnels.
How the system works is it processes live data of traffic, weather and road incidents using AI and machine learning to find the optimal lighting level.
Vehicle traffic is constantly monitored at every interchange of the highway to allow the calculations of traffic and make the predictions for the next hour.
The lighting intensity increases and decreases alongside the traffic levels.
Weather stations and cameras on the motorway collect real-time data to immediately increase lighting in case of a sudden change in conditions.
The trial system will eventually be implemented along the entire highway, which already sees energy performance from previously installed LED lights.
Vinci says annual energy consumption for night lighting will be reduced by up to 75 per cent and it will also se a reduction in light pollution for those living close to the highway.
The adaptive lighting system has been developed by the National Technical University of Athens alongside with start-ups Extrabit, Athens-based weather forecast company Ex Machina, Invision AI and Dutch firm Tvilight.
