How to report a failed streetlight.

If you’re a member of the public:

• You’re probably driving, so stop the car. Somewhere close to the light, but safe.
• Determine the nearest cross street and count which light is the failed one.
• Walk up to the lamp post and make a note of the ID number. Oh, it’s dark. Because the light is out.
• Look up your city’s streetlight reporting webpage and leave a message.
• Hope they are picking up those messages.

If you’re a streetlight engineer in the public works department:

• Try and determine the location of the failed light or lights from those voice mails members of the public leave. They probably won’t give the pole ID.
• And/or drive around your city at night and try and spot any failed lights. Try not to rear-end someone while you’re looking up.
• Park somewhere close to the failed light and walk back to it.
• Walk up to the lamp post and make a note of the ID number. Yes, it’s dark. That’s because the light is out…
• Send the repair crew out to fix the light. They can determine the fault when they open it up. Hope they brought all their tools with them as they don’t know exactly what the fault is until they open it up.

A better way.

This is how it works when you have smart streetlights and a central management system (CMS) like StreetMan^®.

• A faulty light alert appears on the map screen. The map tells you exactly where the light is, and its ID.
• Right-click on the light alert. The nature of the fault is all there. Low power, fuse blown, light blown, wiring fault, etc.
• Send the repair crew out to exactly the right light, with exactly the right tools to fix it.
• The light is fixed before anyone has time to report it.

Isn’t that better?