---
title: "Flow-Adaptive Lighting: Better-Suited Lighting Strategies with IoT"
description: "Flow-adaptive lighting: discover the better-suited lighting strategies with IoT."
---

[Kuzzle blog](https://blog.kuzzle.io)

# [Flow-Adaptive Lighting: Better-Suited Lighting Strategies with IoT](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot)

 Written by [Alicia Thermos](https://blog.kuzzle.io/author/alicia-thermos) | November 06, 2026

Public lighting remains the second-largest energy consumption item for French local authorities. Long designed as a fixed service, switched on from dusk to dawn, it is becoming a data-driven service with IoT. Flow-adaptive lighting adjusts light intensity according to the actual presence of pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

This **smart lighting** approach meets three requirements that once seemed contradictory: reducing the energy bill, protecting nocturnal biodiversity and ensuring travel safety. It falls within a precise regulatory framework, set by the French Environmental Code and the order of 27 December 2018 on light pollution.

For [connected and sustainable territories](https://blog.kuzzle.io/fr/territoire-connecte-guide-complet), the question is no longer whether to adjust lighting, but how to do so reliably, in a targeted way and with anticipation. This is precisely the role of a hypervision platform such as Kuzzle's, dedicated to [smart public lighting control](https://kuzzle.io/fr/cas-usage/eclairage-public-intelligent/).

**Contents**

1. [What is flow-adaptive lighting?](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#what-is-adaptive-lighting)
2. [What are the benefits of smart lighting for connected and sustainable territories?](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#benefits)
3. [Why is reliability a fundamental element of safety?](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#reliability)
4. [Why doesn't a one-size-fits-all approach work everywhere?](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#no-one-size-fits-all)
5. [How can you anticipate more?](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#anticipate)
6. [Safety remains at the heart of smart public lighting](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#safety)
7. [FAQ on adaptive lighting and smart lighting](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot?hs_amp=true#faq)

## What is flow-adaptive lighting?

Flow-adaptive lighting is a **smart lighting strategy that adjusts the light level of each light point in real time according to measured footfall**. Light is dimmed when the road is empty and ramps up as soon as a user approaches. It sits between permanent lighting, which is energy-intensive, and total night-time switch-off, which is sometimes poorly received by residents.

### How does IoT-controlled public lighting work?

The system relies on a four-link IoT chain:

- **Sensors** detect vehicles, two-wheelers and pedestrians on a given route.
- **Controllers** installed in the cabinet or on the luminaire execute dimming, switch-on and switch-off commands.
- **Communication networks** (LoRaWAN, radio mesh, cellular) report data and transmit commands.
- **The hypervision platform** cross-references mobility, consumption and programming data to decide on the right lighting level.

Control can be applied at two scales. **At cabinet level**, the most widespread mode, the command applies to one or more streets. **At light-point level**, each luminaire is managed individually, which makes it possible to closely follow actual movements.

### A public service for connected and sustainable territories

Adaptive lighting is not just a technical building block. It reflects a new way of designing public space at night in a smart city: light is produced where it is useful, when it is useful. [Kuzzle's smart city IoT platform](https://kuzzle.io/fr/plateforme-iot-smart-city/) places this use case within an overall management of the territory, alongside [mobility flow and parking management](https://kuzzle.io/fr/cas-usage/mobilite-et-stationnement/) or energy monitoring of public buildings.

## What are the benefits of smart lighting for connected and sustainable territories?

Adaptive lighting combines economic, environmental and operational gains, without sacrificing the service provided to users. After switching to LEDs, intensity modulation and night-time switch-off remain the main savings levers for public lighting.

### Controlled energy consumption

By lighting only when the road is in use, the local authority reduces the number of hours at full power. On the Kuzzle platform, cross-referencing programming and [energy consumption](https://kuzzle.io/fr/consommation-energie/) data helps find the balance between the expected lighting level and operational savings.

### Preserved nocturnal biodiversity

Less unnecessary light means less disturbance for wildlife, plants and the night sky. [Article L583-1 of the French Environmental Code](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000022496023) specifically aims to limit the disturbances caused by artificial light and the related energy consumption. Kuzzle goes further by integrating halo effect management and the specific features of each route into its control.

### Fewer trips, greater responsiveness

Remote management means staff no longer have to intervene manually on each cabinet to change a schedule. **With cabinet-level control, Kuzzle observes up to 40% fewer trips for programming and maintenance**, thanks to remote failure detection.

### A service better perceived by residents

A street that lights up as a pedestrian passes offers a more acceptable compromise than a complete switch-off. The users most vulnerable in the dark, pedestrians and cyclists, retain sufficient visibility, while the local authority meets its sobriety targets.

| Strategy | Energy savings | Impact on biodiversity | Sense of safety |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Permanent lighting | Low | High impact | High |
| Total night-time switch-off | High | Reduced impact | Often contested |
| Fixed time-based dimming | Medium | Moderate impact | Medium |
| Flow-adaptive lighting | High | Reduced impact | High when users pass |

## Why is reliability a fundamental element of safety?

Adaptive lighting is only safe if it responds every time, without delay or failure. A missed detection or an unexecuted command leaves a user in the dark, with direct consequences for their safety and for residents' trust in the system.

### Connectivity, the foundation of remote management

Without a reliable network, remote control becomes hit-and-miss. Some rural or very dense areas suffer from insufficient coverage, leading to data loss or commands not being applied. **Actual coverage must therefore be mapped before deployment, and redundant solutions planned**, such as local gateways or mesh networks.

### Interoperability to avoid dependence on a single supplier

Public lighting stocks increasingly mix controllers, cabinet models and protocols. A vendor-agnostic platform, able to control equipment whether or not it is TALQ v2-compatible, guarantees service continuity even if hardware changes. This is the principle behind [the IoT platform published by Kuzzle](https://kuzzle.io/fr/kuzzle-iot-plateforme/), which avoids lock-in to a proprietary ecosystem.

### Failure detection and degraded mode

Reliability also depends on continuous monitoring of the lighting stock. Kuzzle detects lighting faults, switch-offs and untimely switch-ons, then triggers alerts to the relevant teams. Back-up scenarios, such as switching to manual mode or reverting to a default lighting level, must be planned for each sensitive area.

### Traceable data to prove compliance

[Article 5 of the order of 27 December 2018](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000037864346/) requires the operator to make the characteristics of its luminaires available to inspectors: proportion of light emitted towards the sky, colour temperature, power, luminous flux and installation date. A platform that centralises this information turns an administrative obligation into a digital inventory that is always up to date.

## Why doesn't a one-size-fits-all approach work everywhere?

A shopping avenue, a cycle path, a park and a residential area have neither the same uses nor the same risks. Applying the same lighting rule everywhere leads either to over-lighting or to dark spots where safety requires light.

### Scenarios by type of space

Smart lighting becomes more relevant when configured route by route:

- **30 km/h zones and school surroundings**: a minimum level maintained, with a rapid ramp-up when a pedestrian is detected.
- **Cycle paths**: anticipated switch-on of several light points ahead of the cyclist.
- **Parks and gardens**: switch-off after closing time, as provided for by [article 2 of the order of 27 December 2018](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000037864346/), no later than one hour after closing.
- **Main road routes**: more cautious modulation, linked to motor traffic.
- **Heritage illumination**: scenographic scenarios coordinated with the events calendar, within the limit of switch-off at 1 am.

### Calendars specific to each municipality

School holidays, clock changes, local festivals, night markets: programming subtleties multiply, especially when management is pooled at intermunicipal or departmental level. Each municipality keeps its own requirements by neighbourhood, by street, or even by light point. The [Kuzzle Hypervision hypervisor](https://kuzzle.io/fr/kuzzle-hypervision/) unifies these calendars in a single tool, with rights management tailored to each profile, from technical staff to elected officials.

### Differentiated environmental constraints

Regulations themselves reject uniformity. The order of 27 December 2018 sets different thresholds inside and outside built-up areas, and tightens the rules in protected natural areas. The prefect may also impose stricter requirements to take account of sensitive species or ecological continuity, under the conditions set out in [articles R583-1 to R583-7 of the Environmental Code](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/id/LEGISCTA000024360132).

## How can you anticipate more?

Lighting that merely reacts to a sensor is always one step behind. **The goal of a mature IoT strategy is to anticipate**: forecast flows, programme lighting levels and intervene before a failure occurs.

### Making use of flow history

Detection data accumulated night after night reveals recurring patterns: people leaving shows, last train times, seasonal footfall. A data analysis platform such as [Kuzzle Data, an open source data solution](https://kuzzle.io/fr/kuzzle-data/), makes it possible to turn this history into lighting profiles by route and by time slot.

### Moving from corrective to preventive maintenance

Detecting luminaire faults and abnormal behaviour makes it possible to plan interventions before a street is plunged into darkness. Linked to the local authority's CMMS and GIS, alerts become prioritised work orders rather than an additional burden for departments.

### Start small to deploy right

Trying to control everything from the outset often makes a project unmanageable. Kuzzle recommends starting with a pilot in a representative area, with measurable objectives, then gradually extending. This approach makes it possible to fine-tune settings, train teams and anticipate available funding (ADEME, regions, European funds, energy savings certificates).

### Building on concrete achievements

Several territories have already made this choice. In the Tarn, Territoire d'Énergie du Tarn controls its public lighting with Kuzzle IoT and Toulouse-based SME Kawantech: the Kara sensor, built into the streetlight, distinguishes pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles to adapt the light in real time, delivering up to 67% energy savings ([see the customer case](https://kuzzle.io/fr/cas-clients/eclairage-public-intelligent/)). Alès Agglomération, for its part, relies on a [territorial hypervision platform](https://kuzzle.io/fr/cas-clients/plateforme-hypervision-territoriale/) that brings together 9 use cases, including the supervision of lighting-related equipment.

## Safety remains at the heart of smart public lighting

Adjusting light never means compromising on user safety. Public lighting falls first and foremost under the mayor's police powers, and every dimming choice must be justifiable with regard to this responsibility.

### Who decides how public roads are lit?

[Article L2212-2 of the French General Local Authorities Code (CGCT)](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000029946370) includes lighting among the matters relating to safe and convenient passage in the streets. However, no text requires all roads to be lit at all times: it is up to the mayor to decide which spaces should receive artificial lighting, and at what times. Management can be delegated to an energy syndicate, but the municipality retains control over emergency switch-on.

### What do regulations say about light pollution?

The legal framework for adaptive lighting is based on several complementary texts:

| Text | What it provides | Relevance for adaptive lighting |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [Articles L583-1 to L583-5 of the Environmental Code](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/section_lc/LEGITEXT000006074220/LEGISCTA000022479256/) (derived from the Grenelle II law of 12 July 2010) | Prevention of light pollution and limitation of energy consumption, without compromising public safety | Establishes the legitimacy of modulation |
| [Articles R583-1 to R583-7 of the Environmental Code](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/id/LEGISCTA000024360132) (Decree No. 2011-831 of 12 July 2011) | Categories of installations, location zones, inspection authorities | Specifies who carries out checks and in which zones |
| Article L583-3 of the Environmental Code | Checks by the mayor, except for municipal installations, which are checked by the State | Clarifies responsibility for compliance |
| [Order of 27 December 2018](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000037864346/), article 2 | Switch-off times and possible adaptation with presence detection | Explicitly recognises detection as a control tool |
| Order of 27 December 2018, article 3 | Technical thresholds for luminaires and luminous flux density | Caps flux density, a threshold that dimming helps to meet |
| [Article L2212-2 of the CGCT](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000029946370) | The mayor's police powers over lighting | Forms the basis for the municipal order on modulation or switch-off |
| [Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj) | Protection of personal data | Governs sensors likely to identify individuals |

### Technical thresholds to comply with

Article 3 of the order of 27 December 2018 sets precise values for outdoor road lighting:

- a proportion of light emitted above the horizontal strictly below 1% for a new luminaire, and below 4% once installed;
- a CIE flux code No. 3 above 95%;
- a colour temperature limited to 3,000 K and, in protected areas, to 2,700 K in built-up areas and 2,400 K outside built-up areas;
- a surface density of installed luminous flux below 35 lm/m² in built-up areas and below 25 lm/m² outside built-up areas;
- no excessive light intrusion into homes.

The order also provides that operators should consider switch-off options together with local stakeholders. Finally, luminaires emitting more than 50% of their light towards the sky had to be replaced by 1 January 2025 at the latest.

### Presence detection and data protection

Section VII of article 2 of the order allows lighting schedules to be adapted when installations are coupled with presence detection devices. Detection must then produce only temporary lighting. To remain GDPR-compliant, local authorities favour sensors that count or classify users without identifying them.

### Staying in control at all times

Smart lighting must be able to be overridden at any time. In the event of an accident, an emergency intervention or an unforeseen event, the Kuzzle platform makes it possible to send a remote emergency switch-on command, without travelling on site. Sensitive areas, such as pedestrian crossings, public transport stops and routes accessible to people with reduced mobility, keep minimum levels defined in advance.

To assess these scenarios for your territory, you can [request a demo of the Kuzzle platform](https://kuzzle.io/fr/demande-de-demo-kuzzle/).

## FAQ on adaptive lighting and smart lighting

### What is the difference between smart lighting and adaptive lighting?

Smart lighting refers to any lighting controlled remotely using IoT: programming, dimming, failure detection. Flow-adaptive lighting is a specific application of it, which adjusts intensity according to actual footfall measured by sensors.

### Is adaptive lighting permitted by law?

Yes. Article 2 of the [order of 27 December 2018](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/loda/id/JORFTEXT000037864346/) provides that switch-off rules can be adapted when installations are equipped with presence detection. The decision lies with the mayor, under [article L2212-2 of the CGCT](https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/codes/article_lc/LEGIARTI000029946370).

### Is a municipality required to light all its streets at night?

No. No provision imposes a general obligation to light all roads. The mayor determines lighting locations and times by order, taking user safety into account.

### What savings can be expected from public lighting remote management?

Gains come from intensity modulation, night-time switch-off and fewer field interventions. Kuzzle observes up to 40% fewer trips for programming and maintenance with cabinet-level control.

### Do detection sensors raise privacy concerns?

They must comply with the [GDPR](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj). Sensors that detect or classify users (vehicle, bicycle, pedestrian) without identifying them greatly limit this risk. The choice of sensor and of the data retained must be documented from the design stage.

### Do you need to replace your entire lighting stock to switch to smart lighting?

No. An interoperable platform controls heterogeneous lighting stocks, at cabinet and luminaire level, regardless of manufacturer or network used. The [Kuzzle IoT platform](https://kuzzle.io/fr/kuzzle-iot-plateforme/) makes it possible to start with existing equipment and then extend gradually.

### How does adaptive lighting contribute to connected and sustainable territories?

It reduces consumption, limits light pollution and produces data useful to other services, such as mobility or energy management. Integrated into an [urban hypervisor](https://kuzzle.io/fr/kuzzle-hypervision/), it becomes a building block in the overall management of the smart city.

[View full post](https://blog.kuzzle.io/flow-adaptive-lighting-better-suited-lighting-strategies-with-iot)

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