Adaptive Dimming Strategies for Urban LED Lighting: A MATLAB-Based simulation framework

LED lighting in urban areas has expanded exponentially over the years, mainly due to its energy and cost savings. Currently, most LED street lights operate at a constant power output, regardless of traffic and pedestrian activity. In this research, a simulation is developed using MATLAB software to design different adaptive regulation strategies with the aim of further improving the energy efficiency of these lights, while maintaining acceptable visibility conditions.

This work integrates LED photometric data, the behaviour of electronic PWM regulators and the calculation of illuminance on the road surface. Two main control strategies are considered: attenuation profiles according to the time of day and traffic-sensitive attenuation according to car detection events. This approach will allow a comparison to be made in terms of energy consumption, illuminance distribution and essential lighting requirements.

This study will enable both municipalities and designers to evaluate the main characteristics of adaptive lighting using a modelling approach together with test scenarios before its implementation on the streets and on any urban road. A flexible methodology is proposed to enable future research to include real sensor data, environmental factors, and additional attenuation algorithms. This will allow for more accurate assessments in decision-making in smart city applications.