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RGSA – Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental
ISSN: 1981-982X
Submission date: 11/1/2024
Acceptance date: 1/3/2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v19n2-058
Organization: Interinstitutional Scientific Committee
Chief Editor: Ana Carolina Messias de Souza Ferreira da Costa
Assessment: Double Blind Review pelo SEER/OJS
DIAGNOSIS OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN PUBLIC LIGHTING:
LUMINOTECHNICAL STUDY
Carlos Matheus da Cruz
1
Nadia Maria da Silva
2
Marcílio Luís Viana Correia
3
Valquiria Melo Souza Correia
4
ABSTRACT
Objective: The aim of this article is to evaluate and optimize the public lighting system at the Federal Rural
University of the Semi-Arid (UFERSA), Angicos Campus, in order to promote a more efficient and sustainable
management of the energy consumed on site.
Theoretical Framework: The theoretical framework is based on concepts of energy efficiency applied to urban
infrastructure, with an emphasis on the public lighting standards established by NBR 5101:2024.
Method: The methodology adopted includes data collection on the existing lighting points on campus, such as the
number of light points, types of lamps, power, and luminous characteristics. The evaluation follows the guidelines
of the NBR 5101:2024 public lighting standard.
Results and Discussion: The initial analysis highlights the potential for energy consumption reduction through
system modernization. Implementing more efficient technologies, such as LED lamps, can significantly reduce
energy consumption, generating considerable savings for the university and the local community. The discussion
suggests that adopting innovative solutions, such as motion sensors and automated systems, is essential for energy
sustainability in educational institutions.
Research Implications: The research on optimizing public lighting at UFERSA Angicos Campus highlights the
positive impact of system modernization with the adoption of efficient technologies like LED lamps. This can
reduce energy consumption and operational costs, serving as a model for other institutions and urban areas. The
research emphasizes the importance of sustainable solutions and efficient electricity management, promoting
replicable practices for sector transformation.
Originality/Value: The originality of this study lies in the practical application of the NBR 5101:2024 guidelines
in the specific context of a university campus, providing a replicable model for efficient public lighting
management.
Keywords: Public Lighting, Energy Efficiency, University Campus, NBR 5101:2024.
1
Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Angicos, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
E-mail: carlos.cruz@alunos.ufersa.edu.br
2
Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Angicos, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
E-mail: nadia.silva@alunos.ufersa.edu.br
3
Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Angicos, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
E-mail: marcilio.correia@ufersa.edu.br
4
Universidade Federal Rural do Semi-Árido, Angicos, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil.
E-mail: valquiria@ufersa.edu.br
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DIAGNÓSTICO DA EFICIÊNCIA ENERGÉTICA NA ILUMINAÇÃO PÚBLICA: ESTUDO
LUMINOTÉCNICO
RESUMO
Objetivo: O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar e otimizar o sistema de iluminação pública da Universidade Federal
Rural do Semi-Árido, Campus Angicos, visando promover uma gestão mais eficiente e sustentável da energia
consumida no local.
Referencial Teórico: O referencial teórico está ancorado em conceitos de eficiência energética aplicados à
infraestrutura urbana, com ênfase nas normas de iluminação pública estabelecidas pela NBR 5101:2024.
Método: A metodologia adotada inclui a coleta de dados sobre os pontos de iluminação existentes no campus,
como o número de pontos de luz, os tipos de lâmpadas, a potência e as características luminosas. A avaliação segue
as diretrizes da norma de iluminação pública NBR 5101:2024.
Resultados e Discussão: A análise inicial evidencia o potencial de redução do consumo energético por meio da
modernização do sistema. A implementação de tecnologias mais eficientes, como lâmpadas LED, pode reduzir
significativamente o consumo energético, gerando uma economia considerável para a universidade e para a
comunidade local. A discussão sugere que a adoção de soluções inovadoras, como sensores de presença e sistemas
automatizados, é essencial para a sustentabilidade energética nas instituições de ensino.
Implicações da Pesquisa: A pesquisa sobre a otimização da iluminação pública no Campus Angicos da UFERSA
destaca o impacto positivo da modernização do sistema, com a adoção de tecnologias eficientes como lâmpadas
LED. Isso pode reduzir o consumo de energia e os custos operacionais, servindo de modelo para outras instituições
e áreas urbanas. A pesquisa reforça a importância de soluções sustentáveis e da gestão eficiente da energia elétrica,
promovendo práticas replicáveis para a transformação do setor.
Originalidade/Valor: A originalidade deste estudo reside na aplicação prática das diretrizes da NBR 5101:2024
no contexto específico de um campus universitário, proporcionando um modelo replicável de gestão eficiente da
iluminação pública.
Palavras-chave: Iluminação Pública, Eficiência Energética, Campus Universitário, NBR 5101:2024.
DIAGNÓSTICO DE LA EFICIENCIA ENERGÉTICA EN LA ILUMINACIÓN PÚBLICA – ESTUDIO
LUMINOTÉCNICO
RESUMEN
Objetivo: El objetivo de este artículo es evaluar y optimizar el sistema de iluminación pública de la Universidad
Federal Rural del Semiárido, Campus Angicos, con el fin de promover una gestión más eficiente y sostenible de
la energía consumida en el lugar.
Marco Teórico: El marco teórico se basa en conceptos de eficiencia energética aplicados a la infraestructura
urbana, con énfasis en las normas de iluminación pública establecidas por la NBR 5101:2024.
Método: La metodología adoptada incluye la recolección de datos sobre los puntos de iluminación existentes en
el campus, como el número de puntos de luz, los tipos de lámparas, la potencia y las características luminosas. La
evaluación sigue las directrices de la norma de iluminación pública NBR 5101:2024.
Resultados y Discusión: El análisis inicial destaca el potencial de reducción del consumo energético mediante la
modernización del sistema. La implementación de tecnologías más eficientes, como lámparas LED, puede reducir
significativamente el consumo energético, generando ahorros considerables para la universidad y la comunidad
local. La discusión sugiere que la adopción de soluciones innovadoras, como sensores de presencia y sistemas
automatizados, es esencial para la sostenibilidad energética en las instituciones educativas.
Implicaciones de la investigación: La investigación sobre la optimización de la iluminación pública en el Campus
Angicos de la UFERSA destaca el impacto positivo de la modernización del sistema con la adopción de tecnologías
eficientes como las lámparas LED. Esto puede reducir el consumo de energía y los costos operativos, sirviendo
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como modelo para otras instituciones y áreas urbanas. La investigación refuerza la importancia de soluciones
sostenibles y de una gestión eficiente de la energía eléctrica, promoviendo prácticas replicables para la
transformación del sector.
Originalidad/Valor: La originalidad de este estudio radica en la aplicación práctica de las directrices de la NBR
5101:2024 en el contexto específico de un campus universitario, proporcionando un modelo replicable de gestión
eficiente de la iluminación pública.
Palabras clave: Iluminación Pública, Eficiencia Energética, Campus Universitario, NBR 5101:2024.
RGSA adota a Licença de Atribuição CC BY do Creative Commons (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
1 INTRODUCTION
The achievement of artificial lighting dates back to the dawn of humanity, when the
mastery of fire allowed societies to enjoy nighttime lighting. As time progressed, the need to
keep lighting sources lit for long periods led to the use of oils. This advancement played a
fundamental role in stimulating the significant development of civilizations.
Over the years, the public lighting sector has played an essential role in providing
lighting in public areas and spaces for collective use. The quality of public lighting is closely
related to several beneficial consequences for the community, such as reducing traffic accidents,
reinforcing the feeling of safety and enhancing the value of the urban environment and public
heritage.
As defined in Clause XXVI of Article 2 of ANEEL (National Electric Energy Agency)
Normative Resolution No. 414/2010, public lighting is a public service with the exclusive
purpose of providing periodic, continuous or occasional lighting to public spaces, becoming an
essential element for improving the quality of life in urban areas.
Public Lighting (PI) represents a specific application of artificial lighting and covers
several categories, such as urban, road and monumental lighting. In the urban category, it
includes the lighting of public spaces, such as streets, avenues, squares, gardens and other urban
roads. The road category concerns the lighting of roads, both federal and state. Finally, the
monumental category encompasses the lighting of monuments, tourist attractions, building
facades, as well as bridges and viaducts, among other urban elements (Casagrande, 2020).
The lighting system in Brazil is predominantly made up of luminaires that use
technologies based on metal vapors, such as mercury and sodium, using glass tubes and internal
gas. These technologies, although widely adopted, present notable challenges, such as low
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luminous and energy efficiency, high failure rates, and a limited useful life, generally around
25,000 hours, or about six years. This results in a constant need for maintenance and
replacement. In addition, these luminaires contain toxic elements in their composition, which
contributes to negative environmental impacts at the time of disposal.
Energy efficiency, both in terms of new materials and resource rationalization, has not
always been a priority in the electricity sector. In this context, research into how to achieve this
efficiency in the IP sector, whether through more advanced processes or through new
technologies and materials, is of great importance for the national electricity sector.
In view of this, public lighting, as it has proven to be an area of extreme relevance within
the national electricity sector, has currently been the subject of studies focused on energy
efficiency, aiming to assess its potential in this segment.
Thus, this article aims to evaluate the energy efficiency of the public lighting system
currently in use at UFERSA's Angicos Campus. Although the campus uses LED lamps, the
current layout still demonstrates inefficiency. To achieve this main objective, several steps will
be carried out, which include measuring the lighting levels and uniformity on the main roads of
UFERSA's Angicos Campus, defining the desired luminosity levels, selecting the appropriate
LED luminaires and evaluating energy efficiency through a lighting study.
2 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
Public lighting has deep roots in history, dating back to ancient times. Since the moment
when humans mastered fire for their own benefit, their lives and habits have undergone
transformations, adapting to artificially lit environments. This has given rise to new methods of
extending artificial lighting, such as the use of animal oils to illuminate homes and public roads
in cities.
The history of public lighting dates back to 1415, when merchants in England requested
its implementation as a measure to combat crime and violence. However, it was in 1662 that
Paris stood out as a pioneer by establishing a public lighting system, using lamps with wicks
dipped in olive oil and common wax candles. The use of oil lamps prevailed during the 17th
century, evolving to gas lamps in the 19th and early 20th centuries, before being replaced by
electric lamps (Rosito et al, 2009).
The introduction of carbon arc lamps and the incandescent filament lamp, invented by
Thomas Edison in the late 19th century, revolutionized public lighting worldwide, allowing
society to expand its nighttime activities, including work, commerce and tourism, and
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significantly changing behaviors and habits. This advancement was driven by the development
of technological innovations such as gas discharge lamps, including the mercury vapor lamp
and the sodium vapor lamp.
According to Rosito (2009, p. 30), the origin of public lighting in Brazil dates back to
the 18th century, when olive oil-based lamps were installed in Rio de Janeiro, later extending
to Porto Alegre in the 20th century. At that time, "lamplighters" were responsible for lighting
these lamps. In 1874, the first gasometer plant was registered in Porto Alegre. In 1876, after
Dom Pedro II's visit to the Philadelphia Exposition in the United States and his motivation for
Thomas Edison's innovations, electric lighting was inaugurated at the Dom Pedro II Railway
Central Station, equipped with six electric lamps.
Electricity generation, which initially had a strategic focus for the nation, was initially
assigned to the federal government, and later, responsibility for public lighting was transferred
to the municipalities, making both electricity generation and lighting essential public services.
It was not until the early 20th century that Brazil began to replace gas lighting with electric
lighting, beginning with the modernization of the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre.
According to Schulz Neto (2016), public lighting is the service that aims to provide light
or artificial brightness to public places at night or during occasional daytime darkness, including
places that require permanent lighting during the day. Thus, lighting plays a crucial role in
improving the quality of life of residents and optimizing the use of public spaces.
NBR 5101:2024 is based on principles and technical knowledge related to public
lighting, electrical engineering and lighting standards worldwide. The standard references the
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) and its standards, which serve as
a fundamental basis for the development of public lighting guidelines in Brazil. Although the
IESNA standards have not been updated since 1992, they continue to provide a solid starting
point for regulating public lighting and determining minimum illuminance levels on different
types of roads and public spaces.
Furthermore, the theoretical framework of NBR 5101:2024 considers the principles of
engineering and architecture, as these fields are essential for the conception, design and
implementation of public lighting systems. Technological advances, in particular the
proliferation of LED lamps, are also considered in the theoretical framework, reflecting the
need to address energy efficiency and the use of modern technologies in public lighting.
In this context, NBR 5101:2024 is a Brazilian technical standard that establishes
guidelines and requirements for the design, installation and maintenance of public lighting
systems. It is an important part of the set of technical standards issued by the Brazilian
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Association of Technical Standards (ABNT) and aims to ensure the efficiency, safety and
quality of lighting systems in public spaces, such as streets, avenues, squares, highways and
other places of public access. NBR 5101:2024 addresses several aspects related to public
lighting, including the aspects and their description, Figure 1.
Figure 1
Aspects and description
Road classification
NBR 5101:2024 defines criteria for classifying different
types of roads, taking into account their function and use,
such as urban roads, rural roads, avenues, highways, etc.
Each type of road has specific requirements in terms of
illuminance and light distribution.
Illuminance levels
The standard establishes the minimum levels of
illumination that must be achieved in different areas and
situations, ensuring that there is adequate lighting for
activities carried out on public roads, such as vehicle traffic
and pedestrian safety.
Selection of light fixtures and lamps
NBR 5101 provides guidance on choosing suitable
luminaires and lamps, considering factors such as energy
efficiency, durability and desired lighting characteristics.
Light distribution
The standard establishes criteria for the uniform
distribution of light along roads, minimizing shadow areas
and ensuring adequate lighting.
Maintenance
NBR 5101 also deals with the maintenance of public
lighting systems, establishing procedures and criteria to
ensure that the installations remain efficient over time.
Source: Adapted from NBR 5101:2024.
NBR 5101:2024 plays a fundamental role in the standardization and regulation of public
lighting in Brazil, contributing to improving safety, energy efficiency and quality of life in
urban and rural areas. Professionals involved in the planning, design and implementation of
public lighting systems must follow the guidelines established by this standard to ensure
compliance with the established technical standards.
IP components (luminaires, lamps, photoelectric relays, luminaire support arm, LED
technology)
The lighting system is not just composed of the lamp, but encompasses a complete set
of components, including luminaires, lamps, photocell relays, ballasts, luminaire support arms,
brackets, conductors, poles and the power distribution network. Figure 2 illustrates the
schematic of a public lighting system.
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Figure 2
Basic lighting circuit system
Source: National Confederation of Municipalities (CNM).
The purpose of luminaires is to protect the lamp from adverse weather conditions and
acts of vandalism. In fact, these structures also have the function of redirecting light towards
the ground, thus increasing the luminous efficiency in the environment. There are a variety of
models on the market, the choice of which will depend on the characteristics of the other
components of the system, such as the reflector body, the lamp holder and the capacity to attach
other auxiliary devices (Dambiski, 2017).
Lamps play a fundamental role in the context of lighting, which is to provide artificial
light. They can be categorized into different groups, according to the principles that guide their
operation, such as incandescent, fluorescent, discharge and LED lamps (Neto, 2017).
The photocell relay is a device that automatically regulates the switching on and off of
the lamp, adjusting itself according to the ambient light (Nogueira, 2013). As for the ballast, it
plays a crucial auxiliary role, with the purpose of regulating the electric current in the lamp, in
addition to ensuring that the appropriate electrical characteristics are provided, guaranteeing the
useful life specified by the manufacturer (Aguera, 2015; Rosito, 2009). Its use is mandatory
and essential in lighting systems that employ fluorescent lamps, as well as in mercury vapor,
sodium and metallic lighting.
According to Copel (2012), the arms can vary in length and angles of inclination, and it
is imperative that they present sufficient mechanical resistance to support the weight of the
luminaires, as well as the forces resulting from exposure to winds and vibrations of varying
intensities. In addition, it is crucial that they are manufactured with measures to protect against
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corrosion.
According to Aguera (2015), supports are materials used to fix or install the elements
that make up the public lighting circuit, including, for example, pressure terminals for fixing
conductors, bases for relays and various accessories such as screws, nuts and pressure washers,
which play an essential role in the assembly and safety of the system.
Brazilian Standard NBR 8451-1 is an essential technical document that establishes the
minimum requirements for the manufacture, testing and acceptance of reinforced and
prestressed concrete poles intended to support electricity distribution and transmission
networks. Published by the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT), this standard
is essential to ensure the safety, durability and efficiency of electrical infrastructures in Brazil.
The main objective of NBR 8451-1 is to ensure that concrete poles used in electrical
power grids have adequate mechanical strength, durability and quality characteristics. The
standard defines strict technical parameters that must be followed during the manufacturing and
testing of these poles, promoting standardization and continuous improvement of the products
offered on the market. This standardization is crucial to guarantee public safety and the
reliability of electrical networks, especially in adverse weather conditions.
The standard details the specifications of the materials that must be used in the
manufacture of concrete posts. The concrete must have a minimum compressive strength , as
indicated in the standard, and must be produced with aggregates and cements that guarantee its
durability and performance. The reinforcement, both active and passive, must be made of high-
strength steel, properly protected against corrosion. The use of high-quality materials is
essential to ensure the longevity and structural integrity of the posts.
The manufacturing process of reinforced and prestressed concrete poles must follow
standardized procedures to ensure the homogeneity and strength of the final product. Proper
curing of the concrete, precise positioning of the reinforcement and strict quality control during
all stages of production are crucial aspects defined by the standard. In the case of prestressed
poles, NBR 8451-1 specifies the prestressing methods, ensuring that the compression forces are
applied correctly, resulting in structures capable of withstanding the expected loads.
To ensure that posts meet the requirements of NBR 8451-1, they must undergo a series
of mechanical and physical tests. These tests include bending, compression and durability tests,
which are performed to verify compliance with established standards. The standard details the
test procedures and acceptance criteria, ensuring that posts adequately perform their functions
throughout their useful life.
Each pole must be identified with clear markings that allow its traceability. Mandatory
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information includes the name of the manufacturer, the production batch, the date of
manufacture and the technical characteristics of the pole. This identification is essential to
facilitate the management, maintenance and inspection of electricity distribution and
transmission networks.
Concrete poles manufactured in accordance with NBR 8451-1 are widely used in
electricity distribution and transmission networks due to their robustness and long service life.
The standard contributes significantly to the standardization and improvement of the quality of
concrete poles in Brazil, promoting public safety and the efficiency of electricity networks.
Furthermore, by establishing clear technical requirements, NBR 8451-1 facilitates inspection
and quality control by energy concessionaires and regulatory bodies.
NBR 8451-1 plays a crucial role in the Brazilian electricity sector, ensuring that
reinforced and prestressed concrete poles meet the highest quality and safety standards.
Compliance with this standard is essential for maintaining the integrity of electrical
infrastructures and for the safety of end users. The continuous updating and adoption of NBR
8451-1 specifications are vital for the sustainable and safe development of electricity
distribution and transmission networks in Brazil.
3 METHODOLOGY
The methodology of an article outlines the procedures used to conduct the research,
including the type of study, sample selection, data collection and analysis methods, ethical
considerations, and study limitations. A detailed and transparent description is essential to
ensure the replicability and reliability of the results, as well as to provide a solid basis for the
interpretation and generalization of the findings.
The methodology of this study was conducted in distinct stages for a comprehensive
analysis of the object of study. Initially, a bibliographical research was carried out to understand
the parameters that influence the quality and necessary requirements in public lighting. The
main research sources included books, academic papers and scientific articles related to
electrical installations, lighting technology and energy efficiency. In addition, regulations that
establish lighting parameters were consulted, such as ABNT NBR 5101:2024, which regulates
the procedures and requirements for public lighting.
The initial research procedures for surveying the characteristics of the environment,
measurements of infrastructure and illuminance took place on site from September to December
2024 between 6 pm and 10 pm by two scholarship holders and two advisors. Then, a spreadsheet
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was prepared containing the data collected on the structural characteristics of section 01, such
as: height of posts, arms and luminaires, types of pavement, luminaires and lamps, general
measurements of the road transversely and longitudinally and collection of lights.
The main road under study extends from the entrance at the end of the university's
central classroom 2 to the main entrance of the campus and, as they have different
characteristics, it was decided to divide it into four sections: section 1 administrative block,
section 2 laboratories, section 3 library and section 4 central classroom 2.
The dates and times for collecting research data on section 01 of the main road were
scheduled, authorized and disclosed by the Management, the infrastructure sector, planning,
reception, security and the university community through the official information systems and
social networks of the campus. With the purpose of maximizing the safety of researchers.
The section of the road under study was previously signposted and the roads were
obstructed with cones and plastic chains, and the flow of vehicles was diverted. During this
period, the team used PPE such as reflective vests to be more visible. For this work, we will
discuss section 1, which is located in front of the administrative block at the entrance to the
campus, Figure 3.
Figure 3
Main road of UFERSA, Angicos, RN - Section 01
Source: Adapted by the authors (2024).
The results obtained in each stage were analyzed and discussed weekly. It is worth
noting that the case study adopted in this research is an empirical approach that investigates
contemporary phenomena in a real context. This involves an analysis including the review of
records, observation of events and the production of reports that may contain narratives,
examples, descriptions and visual material to convey the case in a comprehensive manner,
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Figure 4.
Figure 4
Lighting interference on the main road – Section 01
Source: Authors (2024).
To carry out the research, interferences on the main road that could influence the study
were observed, such as: shading from trees and buildings, lighting range from garden posts,
projectors and luminaires from neighboring buildings, lighting gaps between the posts
analyzed, the type and color of the pavement and its reflectance, number of vehicles with
headlights on, size and inclination of the arms of the luminaires as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5
Circular post with 2-petal luminaires with 90º metal arms
Source: Authors (2024).
In order to record information relevant to the analysis, photographs of the process and
the objects studied were taken with the aid of a smartphone. In addition, to characterize the
lighting system, measurements were taken of the road, such as lanes, sidewalks, flowerbeds,
height of the posts, and angle of the metal arms of the luminaires using digital and manual laser
tape measures as tools, as shown in Figure 6, Table 1, and Table 2.
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Figure 6
General descriptions and dimensions of the mesh – Section 01
Source: Authors (2025).
Table 1
General descriptions and dimensions of the main road – Section 01
Description
Width (m)
Sidewalk 01 - entrance
2.50
Sidewalk 02 - exit
2.60
Bike lane
1.50
Lane 01 - entry
4.00
Lane 02 - exit
4.00
Small flowerbed
0.45
Central flowerbed with posts
2.45
Source: Authors (2025).
Table 2
Identification and some metric characteristics of the Posts in section 01
Identification
Height (m)
Distance (m)
Height of luminaires*
(m)
P1
5.55
P1 to P2 = 23.1
5.55
P2
4.87
P2 to P3 = 28.7
4.87
P3
4.55
P3 to P4 = 28.8
4.55
P4
4.60
P4 to P5 = 28.9
4.60
P5
4.92
P5 to P6 = 30.5
4.92
P6
5.50
-
5.50
* the luminaires have a 90° angle
Source: Authors (2025).
The analysis of the illuminance indices was conducted using a Digital Luxmeter LDV
2000 from the manufacturer Vonder, with measurements taken on site at night between the
months of October and December 2024, following the verification procedures established by
NBR 5101:2024. The standard defines guidelines and procedures for the creation of a
measurement grid and, according to the Brazilian standard for this study, the illuminance grid
was taken into account for measurement, Figure 6.
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Figure 7
Illuminance grid for design and measurement
Source: ABNT NBR 5101:2024.
Acronym Description
1 Posts and lights
2 Traffic lane width (L)
3 Relevant area or area of calculation and/or measurement
4 Center line of traffic lane
S Spacing between posts
x Points for calculating and measuring illuminance values
Considering the characteristics of the street and the guidelines of ABNT NBR
5101:2024, a lighting study was developed. This study was created with the objective of
improving the efficiency of the lighting system in section 1, ensuring that it met the criteria
established by the Brazilian standard in relation to minimum levels of illuminance, uniformity
and classification of roads.
4 RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The results of the study on the optimization of energy efficiency in public lighting at the
Angicos Campus of the Federal Rural University of Semi-Árido (UFERSA) were obtained
through methodological steps that included data collection, computer simulations and
comparative analyses.
The study identified the need to replace traditional lighting fixtures with LED lamps,
with the aim of evaluating the impacts related to energy consumption, operational costs and the
overall performance of the public lighting system.
Illuminance measurements carried out on site indicated that lighting levels were below
the standards established by NBR 5101:2024, resulting in areas with inadequate lighting and
compromising safety, Figure 8 and Figure 9.
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Figure 8
Graphical representation of the results collected at the entrance route
Source: Authors (2025).
Figure 9
Graphical representation of the results collected on the output route
Source: Authors (2025).
The graphs presented show the results of the data found in Section 01, evidencing a
specific lighting deficit in the area. Both in the exit and entrance roads, there are segments in
which the lighting values, measured in lux, reached zero. In both graphs, it is possible to observe
intervals in which the lux values are very low, as in Figure 8 (entrance), in which there are
intervals such as 3-7 and 12-18 that show this observation. In Figure 9 (exit), these intervals are
between 3-8 and 11-18, which in turn show an even larger interval of values close to zero. It
was also observed that the points with the best lighting, that is, with the best lux values, are
those located directly below the posts, as indicated in the graphs above.
These observations highlight the need for measures to make this section better lit,
ensuring the safety of both motor vehicles and pedestrians who pass through the area every day.
It is essential to implement measures that increase the efficiency and uniformity of light
distribution along the road, including the installation of new lighting posts, prioritizing those
areas in which they obtained values close to or equal to zero, in addition to replacing lamps
with others that offer better efficiency for the location. The energy consumption analysis
indicated that replacing them with LED lamps would result in a significant reduction in
electricity consumption.
050
12345678910 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
LUX
Posts
LUX INTENSITY IN BEARING RANGE
01 (INPUT)
D E F
0100
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
LUX
Posts
LUX INTENSITY IN BEARING
RANGE 02 (OUTPUT)
A B C
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5 CONCLUSION
The results of this study confirm the effectiveness of replacing traditional luminaires
with LED lamps in the public lighting system of UFERSA's Angicos Campus. The transition
to LEDs not only improves illuminance levels, meeting the requirements of NBR 5101:2024,
but also significantly reduces energy consumption, maintenance costs, environmental impacts
and maximizes safety and accessibility for people.
The implementation of this technology brings economic, environmental and social
benefits, promoting sustainability, energy efficiency, safety, sociability, well-being and
accessibility. Modernizing the public lighting system with LED lamps is a viable and highly
recommended strategy for other institutions and municipalities seeking to optimize their
lighting systems, ensure safety and save resources.
The continuation of this project will include ongoing monitoring of the system post-
implementation to ensure that efficiency levels are maintained and that best practices identified
during the study are adapted. In addition, it is recommended that additional studies be carried
out to explore other technological innovations that could further contribute to energy efficiency
and sustainability in public lighting.
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