Prague’s Municipal Technology Company (THMP) installed a new traffic sensor on Libeň Bridge at the beginning of July. The sensor will detect traffic density and automatically adjust street light intensity accordingly. At times when no trams or cars are crossing the bridge, the lighting level gradually decreases. This will save the cost of illumination of the bridge and provide a more environmentally friendly solution.

“Under the current settings, the streetlights will operate at full output until 8 p.m. After that, the intensity will decrease gradually to reach 50% at 10 p.m. This level will be maintained for the rest of the night, unless traffic density exceeds a set limit,” explains City Councilor Jan Chabr, adding that should a sensor detect denser traffic on the bridge, the streetlights will automatically switch to full output. THMP experts are currently testing the system in a pilot project. They are going to try various lighting models with different parameters, including the duration and frequency of traffic measurements and the empty bridge illumination level.