Keywords
intelligent street furniture
energy efficiency
sustainability
environmental quality
How to Cite
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of smart street furniture is a testament to the growing number of initiatives and companies that are creating objects connected to photovoltaic technology. They have emerged in a variety of forms, tailored to specific functions and modes of use, within the context of energy transition and technology. These innovations, in a variety of forms and functions, are designed to promote sustainability and address energy and environmental challenges, with the objective of reducing everyday power consumption and improving the planet's ecological state. This article presents a literature review of the field of street furniture, identifying key advances that have shaped its evolution and integration of innovative and smart technologies. It outlines the diverse types, modes of use, and contributions of street furniture to urban energy and ecological improvement, based on data from previous research. The results demonstrate that this type of furniture is still in development and that its benefits are sometimes of regional or even national importance, due to its contribution to solar energy production and environmental improvement. The range of innovative services offered by this type of furniture varies according to the specific product. These include smart lighting, WiFi connectivity, smartphone charging, illuminated advertising panels and so on. There is a strong focus on ensuring that this furniture is in keeping with the natural environment, with healthy materials, textures and shapes inspired by nature. This is important as the furniture can also act as a symbol of the city.
References
Alotaibi, B., Khalifa, K., Abuhussain, M., Dodo, Y., Alshenaifi, M., Sabiu, M., Algamadi, M., Nedhal, A.-T., Maghrabi, A., & Abba, S. (2023). Integrating Renewable-Based Solar Energy into Sustainable and Resilient Urban Furniture Coupled with a Logical Multi-Comparison Study of Cyprus and Saudi Arabia. Processes, 11, 2887. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11102887
Artform urban furniture website. (2020). Intelligent Street furniture design that is adapting to the everchanging urban environment | Street Furniture News from Artform Urban. https://www.artformurban.co.uk/news/post/intelligent-street-furniture-design-that-is-adapting-to-the-everchanging-urban-environment.html
Attmann, O. (2010). Green Architecture: Advanced Technologies and Materials [Book]. McGraw-Hill Education - Access Engineering; McGraw-Hill Education. https://www.accessengineeringlibrary.com/content/book/9780071625012
A’urba, agence d’urbanisme Bordeaux Aquitaine. (2020). Le mobilier urbain : Regard sur l’espace public—Héritages, usages, services rendus, innovations et agencements. a’urba. https://www.aurba.org/productions/le-mobilier-urbain/
Avila, M., Toledo, J., Cordova, F., Icaza, D., & Los Angeles Tello, M. D. (2018). Intelligent Multifunctional Solar Urban Furniture: A multidisciplinary methodological vision of technology. 2018 International Conference on Smart Grid (IcSmartGrid), 184–194. https://doi.org/10.1109/ISGWCP.2018.8634474
AVIVA. (2020, November 16). Aviva opens one of the UK’s largest solar and energy storage initiatives. https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2020/11/aviva-opens-one-of-the-uks-largest-solar-initiatives/
Başar, A. G. (2021). Sustainability in Urban Furniture Design; The Use of Renewable Energy Sources. A. G.
Belnor Engineering. (2017). The World’s First Solar-Powered Transit System. THE BELNOR BLOG. https://medium.com/the-belnor-blog/the-worlds-first-solar-powered-transit-system-49341a913b71
Cognimetrica website. (2024). Autonomous Bus Stop—Cognimetrica. https://cognimetrica.com/smart-city/autonomous-bus-stop/
Dean, A. (2023, February 2). Smart Street Furniture: A Step Closer to Creating Smart Cities. Eco Renewable Energy. https://www.ecorenewableenergy.com.au/articles/building-smart-cities-with-smart-street-furniture/
David, B., & Chalon, R. (2010). Hotspot Based Mobile Web Communication and Cooperation: ABRI+ Bus Shelter as a Hotspot for Mobile Contextual Transportation and Social Collaboration. (p. 189).
EnGoPlanet. (2018, July 30). What is Smart Solar Bench? Engoplanet. https://www.engoplanet.com/single-post/what-is-smart-solar-bench
ENI CBC Med. (2022, June 10). Med-EcoSuRe launching the first Solar Tree Project in Palestine. ENI CBC Med. https://www.enicbcmed.eu/med-ecosure-launching-first-solar-tree-project-palestine
Frolova, M., Prados, M.-J., & Nadaï, A. (Eds.). (2015). Renewable Energies and European Landscapes: Lessons from Southern European Cases. Springer Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-9843-3
Grabiec, A. M., Łacka, A., & Wiza, W. (2022). Material, Functional, and Aesthetic Solutions for Urban Furniture in Public Spaces. Sustainability, 14(23), 16211. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316211
Grillo. (2019). Wooden snakes and cubes define new public spaces. https://www.domusweb.it/en/design/gallery/2019/11/21/wood-cubes-and-snakes-to-define-new-public-spaces.html
Hemalatha, C.; Chandrawathani, P.; Suresh Kumar, G.; Premaalatha, B.; Geethamalar, S.; Lily Rozita, M.H.; Farah Haziqah, M.T.; Sabapathy, D.; Ramlan, M. The diagnosis of Blastocystis sp. from animals—An emerging zoonosis. Malays. J. Vet. Res. 2014, 5, 15–22
Khelfa, I. eddine, Lazri, Y., Alkama, D., & Toumi, R. (2024). An Energy and Ecological Assessment of The Prior and Post-Hybrid Renovation State of Multi-Dwelling Building in the Algerian City of Skikda. Indonesian Journal of Social Science Research, 5(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.11594/ijssr.05.01.12
Khelfa, I. eddine. (2024). Hybrid energy renovation of existing buildings: A case study of collective housing in Skikda [Thesis]. http://dspace.univ-guelma.dz/jspui/handle/123456789/16175
Khelifa, F. (2024). Paramétrage de microclimat urbain par la végétation et les plans d’eau. Cas de la ville Souk Ahras [Thesis]. http://dspace.univ-guelma.dz/jspui/handle/123456789/16198
Krejcar, O., Maresova, P., Selamat, A., Melero, F. J., Barakovic, S., Husic, J. B., Herrera-Viedma, E., Frischer, R., & Kuca, K. (2019). Smart Furniture as a Component of a Smart City—Definition Based on Key Technologies Specification. IEEE Access, 7, 94822–94839. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2019.2927778
Lucera website. (2024). Pérgola Solar Fotovoltaica: Beneficios y funcionalidades: Lucera. https://lucera.es/blog/pergola-solar-fotovoltaica-beneficios-y-funcionalidades
McNulty-Kowal, S. (2021, May 5). This smart city furniture uses solar panels to create WiFi hotspots + charging outlets for the urban millennial user! - Yanko Design. https://www.yankodesign.com/2021/05/05/these-smart-city-furniture-uses-solar-panels-creating-wifi-hotspots-charging-outlets-for-the-urban-environment/
Morsi, A., Radwan, A., & Morsi, A. (2016). The Importance of Integrating Street Furniture In The Visual Image Of The City. International Journal of Engineering Research.
Nikken Sekkei Co. (2020, May 29). A Wooden Zero-Energy Cool Spot—First installation of COOL TREE LITE in Iidabashi, Chiyoda-ku—| NEWS | News. NIKKEN SEKKEI LTD. https://www.nikken.co.jp/en/news/news/2020_05_29.html
Orwak-Compactors. Industrial & Commercial Compactor-Waste Compactors Australia. CHALLENGING WASTE HANDLING? 2023. Available online: https://www.orwakcompactors.com.au/ (accessed on 23 May 2023).
Scognamiglio, A., Cancro, C., Formisano, F., Privato, C., Fumagalli, S., & Leonardi, G. (2007). Optimization of the lighting photovoltaic component stapeliatd.
Sengupta, M., Habte, A., Wilbert, S., Gueymard, C., & Remund, J. (2021). Best Practices Handbook for the Collection and Use of Solar Resource Data for Solar Energy Applications: Third Edition. https://doi.org/10.2172/1778700
Silicontile. (2018, January 10). Innovation et évolution du mobilier urbain intelligent. S’Tile. https://silicontile.fr/innovation-et-evolution-du-mobilier-urbain-intelligent/
Solomon, S., Qin, D., Manning, M., Chen, Z., Marquis, M., Avery, K., M.Tignor, & Miller, H. (2007). Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis. Working Group I Contribution to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC (Vol. 1).
Tereci̇, A., & Atmaca, M. (2020). Integrating Renewable Energy Systems into Urban Furniture for Recreational Spaces: A Design Proposal for Konya Adalet Park. Gazi University Journal of Science, 33(1), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.35378/gujs.532828
Trenberth, K. E., Jones, P. D., Ambenje, P., Bojariu, R., Easterling, D., Tank, A. K., Parker, D., Renwick, J. A., Adler, R., Alexander, L., Alexandersson, H., Allan, R., Baldwin, M. P., Beniston, M., Bromwich, D., Camilloni, I., Cassou, C., Cayan, D. R., Chang, E. K. M., … Jallow, B. (2007). Observations: Surface and Atmospheric Climate Change.
Tuvie Design website. (2009, May 22). EyeStops: Futuristic Bus Stops from SENSEable City Lab of MIT. Tuvie Design. https://www.tuvie.com/eyestops-futuristic-bus-stops-from-senseable-city-lab-of-mit/
U.N.E.P. (2023, December 21). Urban Cooling and Extreme Heat | UNEP - UN Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/topics/cities/cooling-and-heating-cities/urban-cooling-and-extreme-heat
United Nations. The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2020; UnitedNations: New York, NY, USA, 2021.
Urban elements website. (2023, March 29). Sustainability Meets Technology: The Benefits of Smart Solar Furniture. Urban Elements. https://urbanelements.ie/blogs/smart-benches/sustainability-meets-technology-the-benefits-of-smart-solar-furniture
Willemijn, M. (2014, April 27). Smart urban furniture and screens in the future city. Milou Willemijn. https://milouwillemijn.wordpress.com/2014/04/27/smart-urban-furniture-and-screens-in-the-future-city/