Wireless Lighting Control for Education | Casambi Whitepaper

Modified on Wed, 26 Feb at 12:47 PM

Introduction

High-quality lighting in schools is known to significantly improve the wellbeing and performance of students and staff. Research has shown that school facility design affects student learning, attendance, and teacher turnover rates (1). In addition, students consider lighting an important design factor in classroom environments (2). A year-long study conducted by Dr. Michael Schulte-Markwort, Director of the Clinic for Psychosomatics in Children and Juveniles at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, found that correct lighting in the classroom, in terms of intensity, color temperature, and dynamism, helps to increase reading speed by 35%, and reduces comprehension errors by 45%. It was also shown that warm lighting can reduce hyperactivity in the classroom by up to 76%.

The methodology for education has also changed. The 21st Century education model is predicated on project-based learning and encourages more dialogue, collaboration and exploration. To facilitate this new approach to learning, education spaces need to be flexible, multifunctional and easily modifiable. Open plan configuration should simultaneously allow for multiple uses; for public presentations, quiet reading, teamwork, privacy and creativity. The well-being of students and school staff is also a priority, maintained by the use of more natural light and improved environmental conditions such as good lighting, air quality and acoustic comfort.

How wireless smart lighting control can help solve today’s challenges

Wireless smart lighting control caters well to today’s education facilities by directly answering the need for powerful, highly customizable lighting control while tapping into further energy savings with sensors, switches, and other smart devices.

Application highlights:

Non-disruptive installation and rapid commissioning

Wireless lighting can be installed without the need for surface reconstruction or the pulling of wires, and can be commissioned remotely from an app.

Intuitive interface on mobile devices

Luminaires can be turned on and off remotely, and easily reconfigured and recommissioned from a smart device.

Occupancy detection

Sensors can detect motion to indicate the presence of a person and automatically turn on lights only when they are needed.

Scheduling and timers

It is possible to create time-based scenes that turn on, off, or dim selected luminaires to preset levels according to bespoke needs.

Daylight harvesting

Adjustable lighting strategies can be programmed and implemented – such as daylighting, whereby automated controls can adjust the lighting to maintain a target level, reducing energy costs.

Task tuning

Lighting can be adjusted to the optimal level for individual areas improving safety and saving energy across a site.

Human-centric lighting

As light can affect human circadian physiology, smart lighting can be programmed to follow sleep cycles to positively affect health, alertness, and productivity.

Wireless emergency lighting

If emergency services are called for, lights can be swiftly and remotely controlled to shine at maximum brightness for increased visibility.

Environmental monitoring

Connected lighting can be used as an onramp for other applications such as remote air quality control, dangerous gas leak detection, or noise pollution monitoring.

The building blocks of smart lighting control

Wireless smart lighting systems principally comprise four elements:

The light controller This is the communication transceiver that controls the driver or the light-sensitive module within a luminaire itself.

The central management software This gathers data and controls all the luminaires in the lighting network. Isolated lights can be remotely controlled or can be grouped together and controlled synchronously.

The communication protocol This is the system of rules that allows lights within a network to exchange messages without the need for wired communications.

The gateway controller This aggregates communication from the light controllers and backhauls data to a central management platform. Building management personnel can remotely monitor their lighting networks and analyze performance dashboards in real-time.

How Casambi can help

Casambi offers the perfect solution to meet the modern schools’ stringent lighting control demands. Casambi wireless lighting controls are based on BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), which is the only low-power wireless technology found in all modern smartphones, tablets, and even smartwatches.

The same technology is embedded into hundreds of luminaires and devices from all the major lighting manufacturers. This enables you to enjoy the benefits of smart lighting in your facility without the need for special wiring, or complex hardware requirements.

Casambi’s open ecosystem architecture is a generation ahead of the proprietary legacy systems currently on the market. All of the company’s native products and all of its partners’ Casambi Ready products are 100% compatible with each other. The technology is also integrated into fixtures, drivers, switches, sensors, and a diverse collection of modules.

Casambi collaborates with a vast number of leading luminaire, driver, LED board, LED lamp, and lighting control module manufacturers. Currently, there are 1000+ (and counting!) Casambi-enabled products available – all utilizing the simplicity of safe and reliable wireless communication. Thanks to its simplified system architecture and user interfaces, Casambi is easy and fast to specify, install, commission, and use.

Application highlights:

Occupancy detection
Scheduling and timers – You can create bespoke time-based scenes that switch or dim luminaires to preset levels
Daylight harvesting and daylight responsive blind controls
Circadian lighting profile / human-centric-lighting
Simple end-user interface on mobile devices for individual lighting control
Non-disruptive installation and easy commissioning
Changes in control groups or light scenes can be applied anytime by facility staff
Reduced operational costs
Wireless emergency lighting with automated testing and reporting
Open platform to monitor energy savings and control assets

How it works

No special wiring for lighting controls is needed. Decisions on lighting control groups can be made or updated at any stage, without any interruption to installations.

The typical range for wireless connectivity is 30 meters for indoors, and 50 meters for outdoors. Bluetooth 5, compared to its predecessor Bluetooth 4, quadruples the wireless range from 50 up to 200 meters in free air.

All devices (nodes) within a Casambi mesh network carry the complete system intelligence, and all nodes speak to each other. Unlike other wireless communication technologies, there are no central communication units that could become a weak link for uninterrupted communication. If one node fails, the communication continues via other nodes.

All system configurations and end-user controls are handled via the Casambi App on mobile devices, available for free on iOS and Android.

A Casambi network consists of up to 250 units depending on the network mode, and an endless number of networks can be created and used in a single site, giving you endless possibilities to scale up in the future.

Each Casambi network can be connected to existing DALI networks, via the Casambi DALI gateway

Casambi App

Sample application

Advanced:

Groups of luminaires are automatically dimmed or switched according to daylight levels, occupancy status, and scheduling.
Occupancy detection with control zoning, allows for dimming of luminaires within specified zones where no motion is detected.

Control Type	Functionality
Daylight harvesting	Light outputs of luminaires are adjusted based on the available natural light measured by an open loop daylight sensor
Circadian Scene	The color temperature (K) of luminaires is adjusted based on the time of day
Motion detection (Presence)	Occupied: Run Circadian scene Unoccupied for 20 minutes: Turn off lights
Manual Control	Lighting is controlled by the class instructor, who uses the Casambi App for scene selection spanning class/projection/club hours/ and other programmed scenes

Basic:

Manual control and occupancy detection with 2 control zones

Control Type	Functionality
Manual Control	Manual switching from wall mounted Casambi Ready wireless switch
Motion detection (Presence)	Unoccupied for20 minutes: Turn off lights

Casambi benefits for schools

Full functionality for dynamic light settings

Circadian rhythm / human-centric lighting
Daylight responsive lighting and blind controls
Occupancy detection
Scheduling and timers (i.e. lights are on only during weekdays 08:00-18:00)
Multiple light scenes,which the instructor can select from the app/switch

100% interoperability in the Casambi Ecosystem

The Casambi Ecosystem consists of 1000+ interoperable lighting products, including luminaires, drivers, sensors, switches, dimmers and other control gear from all major lighting manufacturers.

All ecosystem products share the same core, meaning 100% interoperability and full performance, for today and the future.

Maximum flexibility and scalability

Casambi offers unlimited scalability – A Casambi network consists of up to 250 units depending on the network mode, and an endless number of networks can be created and used in a single site, giving you endless possibilities to scale up in the future. You can implement smart controls in one single room and later extend it to a campus-wide installation, including both indoor and outdoor spaces. As the hardware complexity is reduced to a minimum, all that you need is Casambi-enabled luminaires, switches or sensors.

No additional tools or software are needed to configure and use a Casambi network – just a smartphone or tablet and the Casambi App, free to download for iOS and Android.

Space layouts, room partitions or preferences may change – with the easy-to-use Casambi app, you can change control groups, light scenes and create new ones at any time. In wired systems, changes in control groups can be difficult as the flexibility is limited with the communication cables being installed at the time of construction.

With Casambi, such changes can be performed remotely and at any time without the need to visit the site for simple scene updates.

Secure and robust

Full encryption of communication between mobile devices and end nodes and security measuresfor authorization means all data that is transmitted in a Casambi network is 100% protected and safe.

Fail-safe & self-healing network: All nodes in a Casambi mesh network carry a backup of the entire system, which speeds up the communication and makes the communication more robust.

All Casambi Ready products are built in a standardized hardware and software environment, and all Casambi components receive over-the-air updates. New functions are also made available to the user regularly and free of charge.

Easy to install, commission and use

Install:
- No wiring for lighting control means fast and non-disruptive installation for buildings in use.
- Simple network – BLE is the only low power wireless technology found in all modern smartphones, tablets and even smart watches. No additional IT equipment, software or licenses are required to commission and operate the lighting control network. Additionally, no data communication cables, dongles, or gateways are needed.
Commission:

No additional tools or software are needed to configure and commission a Casambi network – just a smart phone or tablet and the Casambi App, free to download for iOS and Android.
With the intuitive Casambi App, commissioning is simple and quick.
For buildings in use, the end users can change control groups, light scenes and create new ones at any time. Changes can also be performed remotely, without the need to visit the site, for simple scene updates.

Use:

All products in a Casambi network can be controlled via a mobile device with the Casambi App, as well as any wall-mounted or wireless switches from the Casambi ecosystem.
Casambi CBU units can be placed as external devices to the luminaires, making them a building asset, which can then be reconfigured and used with changes in functions, tenants, etc. This makes Casambi a completely future-proof lighting control solution.

Cost savings at every step of your project:

Up to 40% energy savings can be achieved by using a multiple control strategy combining occupancy detection and daylight harvesting. With Casambi, any existing light installation can be upgraded to include occupancy and daylight sensors.

Easy and fast installation due to no special wiring needed for data communications, and rapid commissioning via the Casambi App helps save you time and money.

Automatic testing and reporting of the Casambi wireless emergency lighting system provides savings on operational costs thanks to eliminated periodic on-site manual testing.

Simple commissioning tasks can be handled by facility managers, or our commissioning partners can provide quick and reliable recommissioning services. The simplicity of Casambi networks saves time and costs on the recommissioning of networks in operating buildings.

Casambi X DALI

Casambi offers users unparalleled flexibility with wireless, wired, and hybrid options. Whether leveraging entirely wireless capabilities or opting for traditionally trusted wired solutions, users can effortlessly mix and match to tailor lighting networks to specific project requirements.

A hybrid solution might entail control of luminaires through wired DALI means alongside wireless Casambi Ecosystem products in the same lighting controls system. This adaptability ensures that Casambi remains applicable across diverse settings, empowering users to choose the most fitting configuration for their needs.

The latest addition to Casambi´s DALI integration options, Salvador seamlessly integrates wired DALI drivers into the Casambi system, with a single unit capable of controlling up to 64 DALI drivers. DALI luminaires, when incorporated, will appear in the Casambi network as virtual luminaires, where they are programmed and controlled in the same way as Casambi Ready devices via the Casambi App. Salvador enables the extension of existing DALI networks and the creation of hybrid networks that consist of both Casambi Ready and DALI devices. Multiple Salvadors that are controlling DALI luminaires can be wirelessly connected to form a single Casambi mesh network.  Notably, this product supports industry standards such as DALI D4i, DALI DT6, and DALI DT8. Additionally, Salvador features an integrated power supply, an internal Real-time clock (RTC) with backup energy storage, and cable strain relief to facilitate a smooth installation process.

Wireless emergency lighting

Modern emergency lighting systems must meet strict maintenance and testing requirements, including advanced control and communication functions.

There are several wireless emergency lighting solutions based on Casambi technology. These systems support DALI DT1 standard devices, meaning reliable interoperability with DALI self-contained emergency control gear, and enable wireless communication without the need for additional hardware or traditional DALI wiring. Emergency devices are easily paired using the Casambi App, allowing for an easy wireless upgrade for existing luminaires without a change of layout. Users can easily view the luminaires' signal strength and identify emergency devices from within the Casambi App.

These solutions provide automatic testing of individual luminaires, standard-compliant logs that available to download or access from cloud, and central monitoring via iPad or PC-based graphical user interfaces.

For more information on the wireless emergency systems based on Casambi technology, please refer to the Ecosystem section inside Casambi website.

Tap into the IoT world

Through its Cloud API, Casambi networks can be integrated into IoT tools that enable network monitoring and the usage of collected data from the network – your lighting network then becomes part of the smart building infrastructure.
You can monitor and visualize all data from the Casambi network, such as energy consumption, occupancy patterns or air quality.

Case Study

Oxford University Bodleian Library

The Bodleian Library at Oxford University is one of the oldest libraries in Europe and has parts that date back to 1487. It is the main research library of the University of Oxford and holds over 12 million items, occupying five buildings.

The library has been updated with state of the art lighting and lighting controls with the latest technology from Casambi. The task at hand was to enhance the lighting functionality of the space without disturbing the original architecture. Casambi’s CBU-ASD (a wireless control unit for LED drivers with 0-10V, 1-10V, or DALI dimming interface) was small enough to fit into the refurbishment design, so no customization had to be done. The library’s 170 luminaires are separated to two different networks and the staff of the library controls the lighting via Casambi Xpress switches. Xpress is used to recall scenes and to turn off the lighting when the library is closed. A “fade to zero” functionality has been implemented for the staff of the library to exit before the lights are completely turned off. Existing occupancy sensors were equipped with Casambi CBU-ASD modules to gain wireless connectivity and to enable presence/absence detection and daylight dimming, ensuring lights are only on when they are needed.

Being completely wireless, Casambi was the ideal solution for quick and non-disruptive installation, where the library remained in use during the refurbishment.

Customer benefits:

A wireless control system that enables the user to personalize their lighting via the intuitive Casambi App.
A 1:1 replacement of the luminaires without changing the existing electrical installation
Energy savings using Casambi-enabled presence/absence detection and daylight harvesting.
Quick and non-disruptive installation.
Casambi Xpress wireless switches, which provide another easy way for staff to control the lights.

1. D.J. O’Neill, A.D. Oates, The impact of school facilities on student achievement, behavior, attendance, and teacher turnover rate in central Texas middle schools, Educ. Facil. Plan, 36 (2001), pp. 14-22

2. N. Castilla, C. Llinares, J.M. Bravo, V. Blanca, Subjective assessment of university classroom environment, Build. Environ., 122 (2017), pp. 72-81