Zurich Airport digitizes lighting infrastructure
"With CityTouch, the luminaires have been given a voice"
.On the grounds of Zurich Airport, more than 2000 luminaires provide safety and visibility. The maintenance required for the light points to ensure safety demands close-meshed controls, especially for obstruction lighting around the airport. Zurich Airport's Electrical (Airfield Maintenance) group was therefore looking for a system to reduce this effort.
"With the use of networked LED luminaires and the CityTouch lighting management system, the maintenance effort for street lighting checks could be minimized from five days per month to five days per year."
Head of Electrical Installations Zurich Airport
This is possible because today all lighting points around the airport are mapped in the CityTouch lighting management system: conventional luminaires as well as the more than 130 newly installed networked luminaires. The entire lighting infrastructure can be managed and maintained in one software.
"We used to have to start up and check every light. Now we can see at a glance in the system if one is not working. During periodic inspections, we're all on the road with a laptop. CityTouch is our source of information. But also the documentation during maintenance is done directly in the system, so it's all much easier now."
Employee electrical systems Zurich Airport
To date, over 1500 luminaire checks have already been logged via mobile app. In addition, all networked luminaires are remotely controlled using the CityTouch software and the dimming profiles are continuously optimized:
"We analyze the situation on site and feel our way to the right illuminance. For us, the rule is: illuminate only where necessary to keep light pollution low."
Head of Electrical Systems Zurich Airport
In addition to the introduction of the light management system, the lighting infrastructure at Zurich Airport is undergoing ongoing refurbishment. The next stage involves cargo OST, where ClearFlood floodlights will provide area lighting, and DigiStreet will be installed on access roads and in the truck waiting area.
"Our ultimate goal is for all lighting fixtures to be equipped with networked lights and powered by continuous current."
Head of electrical installations Zurich Airport
The advantages of CityTouch for Zurich Airport briefly summarized:
- No more monthly checks necessary thanks to automatic fault messages from the luminaires
- all periodic checks, of networked and conventional light points, are scheduled with CityTouch in the office and documented directly in the field
- Map-based visualization supports employees in the field in their daily work and especially helps orientation of new employees
- Continuous power operation of networked luminaires (ClearFlood for areas and DigiStreet for streets) and flexible adjustment of lighting for special events such as the WEF thanks to remote-controlled dimming profiles
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Interview Head of Electrical Systems (Airfield Maintenance) Zurich Airport
What has changed in daily operation since the introduction of CityTouch?
With CityTouch, the lights have been given a "voice" and will report if something is wrong. This eliminates the monthly check and we only have to check the general condition of the lights twice a year. Regular replacement of the light bulbs is also eliminated due to the LED technology. We plan all inspections, including those for luminaires that are not CityTouch-capable, with the maintenance tool. Thanks to the map-based display, even new employees can find the light points quickly and easily.
What are the benefits of the newly installed, networked luminaires?
The lights are perceived as pleasant. The area is illuminated homogeneously and the light intensity can be increased or decreased as needed. Example: During the WEF, the airport is on heightened standby and we support our partners by switching luminaires that are actually off to continuous light during the WEF and increasing the light intensity to 100%. We can simply respond to lighting requests much more flexibly today.
How do you use the CityTouch lighting control system?
The first strands have already been switched to continuous operation and more are coming all the time. Our ultimate goal is for all lighting fixtures to be equipped with networked lights and run on continuous power. We use the dimming profiles with every luminaire. We analyze the situation on site and approach the right lighting. For us, the rule is: illuminate only where necessary to keep light pollution low.
Use the possibilities of reports & evaluations in CityTouch?
After each control, we export the reports, visualize and archive them. We don't use specific reports for incident reports, for example, because we try to fix incidents right away, not collect them and then work through them.
Are there any features you don't yet use?
We haven't added radar to a lighting string yet. Eventually, we plan to test with self-activated lights that turn on as needed.
Where do you see great potential for the future in the area of lighting management?
The systems from various manufacturers are not yet networked with each other and do not exchange data. In terms of Industry 4.0 and IOT, there is still a lot that can develop there. I can well imagine CityTouch detecting a vehicle by sensor, switching on the street lights, and at the same time sending the command to the staircase control system in the house that a person is approaching.
