Streetlights continue to change the world. Okay, while that may feel like a bit of an overstatement, they are transforming our cities. Before street lighting made its debut, the night was considered a time of “transgressions.” Respectable ladies and gents had no business out on the streets after dark. Lighting reclaimed these “forbidden” hours for people to socialize and conduct business. From the first candle and oil lanterns to today’s data-driven smart LED systems, street lighting has been a boon to local businesses, tourism, and residents.

Today’s technology is leading the next revolution in street lighting. “Smart Cities” can now direct drivers to vacant parking spots via a phone app, change traffic flow by altering signal patterns and warn drivers of congestion, among other things. According to Forbes’ “6 Ways the Internet of Things is Creating the City of the Future,” objects connected to the Internet will reach 25 billion by 2020. With this connectivity in place, cities will have a central dashboard or control system, allowing administrators to monitor activity and adjust elements, such a straffic signals or street lighting, with the swipe of a touchscreen.