An Empirical Investigation of Automatic Streets Lighting Systems Design and Implementation for Crime Prevention in Residential Areas

Abstract

Abstract: Engineering professionals and the essential roles they play in creating solutions to challenges cannot be underestimated. These essential roles are central to basic solution, most especially in developing nations. One of such challenges is the security of lives and properties. However, in other to combat security issues in our neighborhood, adequate and efficient outdoor lighting to illuminate our homes, offices, streets, and communities is a pre-requisite and a must in order to ward off intruders and buglers from hiding in the dark around our premises. The purpose of this study was to carry out an empirical investigation of automatic streets lighting systems design and implementation for crime prevention in residential areas. The methodology used in this study was to design the lighting system and the automatic control unit, to assemble and construct the automatic control panel, to install the control panel and its earth protection, to install the streetlights and terminate to the low voltage (220V AC) distribution conductor, and to test and commission a working Automatic Controlled Street Lighting System. This study concluded that for engineers to reduce and eliminate human effort in every areas of life is evident in virtually all disciplines and professions. The study further recommends the option of using machine intervention to reduce error, is common in many applications such as timers in microwave, ovens, temperature control in electric irons. Provisions of an automatic control for street lighting system will eliminate errors and eradicate all inconveniencies associated with manual operation of such system because it comes on automatically in the hours of darkness and goes off by itself when it senses the sunlight coming out in the day time. Authors in this study concluded that these lightings expose the activities going on within and around our premises at night time when the natural source of light is no more effective. Keywords: Optimize Energy Management: Eliminate Human Effort & Errors: Monitoring and Controlling: Street Light: Efficient Outdoor Lighting: Less Maintenance, Nigeria