1. Introduction

Within the MegaBITS project, the municipality of Zwolle developed a Light Analysis Tool to improve cyclist safety by analysing public lighting across the municipality.

In the current approach, new developments, where public lighting is added or modified, are assessed using detailed simulations in Dialux. For existing, older parts of the municipality, these calculations are not available, resulting in a lack of insight into current lighting conditions. In addition, the current approach is largely reactive, relying on reports and incidents, meaning that issues are typically only addressed after they have been reported and a comprehensive overview is lacking.

This new approach introduces a scalable, data-driven method to quickly identify potentially unsafe locations using existing Digital Twin data.

2. The Challenge

In the current situation within the municipality of Zwolle, several limitations are encountered when assessing public lighting:

• Lighting quality in existing areas is often unknown

• Assessments rely on complaints, incidents, or partial data

• Detailed simulations are accurate but time-consuming

• No complete, municipality-wide overview of lighting performance

This results in a reactive approach, where potential safety issues remain undetected until problems occur.

3. The Approach: Light Analysis Tool

The Light Analysis Tool provides a fast and scalable method to assess public lighting conditions and identify potential risk locations for cyclists.

Key characteristics:

• Uses existing data from the Digital Twin Zwolle

• Provides rapid insights at municipality scale

• Combines lighting analysis with traffic context

• Functions as a screening and prioritisation tool

• Supports proactive decision-making

The approach is designed for existing urban and rural areas across the entire municipality, providing a comprehensive overview of public lighting conditions. 

Read the full report at the website link below.