DfI/2019-0231: EIR Request for information on LED Street Lights and a 5G Network Strategy

Date published: 10 January 2020

DfI/2019-0231: EIR Request for information on LED Street Lights and a 5G Network Strategy. 

The specific request is as follows:

Details

Dear Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland),
1. Do you have a 5G strategy?
1.1 If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.
1.2 If yes, has the public had the opportunity to read and understand the Department for Infrastructure’s 5G strategy? Where was this information published?
1.3 I also request a supplementary document that includes the highest level of detail on all 5G technology that is planned to be used and is in current use in public spaces within Northern Ireland:
(a) Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers.
(b) Specification sheets of 5G technology.
(c) What technology e.g. units and arrays are not currently 5G, but can be 5G enabled e.g. with current software, future software, hardware upgrades or retrofitting?
(d) What UK, EU and International safety standards is the Department for Infrastructure complying with for the 5G strategy and existing 5G technology?
(e) I request proof e.g. a certificate from the Department for Infrastructure that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
1.4 If you do not have a 5G strategy, I request to know when you will be chairing a 5G strategy?
2. I request the name/s of the Officer/s in charge of the 5G strategy and roll out for 5G and Smart Cities; and who their subject area expert or consultancy is, their CV and qualifications on 5G and Smart Cities.
3. Are you in talks with any experts, companies or entities about autonomous vehicles (AV) for public transport and/or private use on Public Highways?
3.1 If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.
3.2 I also request a supplementary document that includes all levels of detail on:
(a) Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers?
(b) Specification sheets of all technology.
(c) What type of communication system will the Department for Infrastructure be utilising to control the vehicles?
(d) What UK, EU and International safety standards does your AV strategy and rollout comply with?
(e) I request proof e.g. a certificate from the Department for Infrastructure that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
4. Do you have a strategy for smart roads and smart signage on Public Highways and Public spaces?
4.1 If yes, I request to see the complete strategy, its ambitions and its objectives in PPTX, Word, PDF or picture format.
4.2 I also request a supplementary document that includes all levels of detail on:
(a) Companies and entities involved and the names of the company/entity officers?
(b) Specification sheets of all technology.
(c) What technology e.g. units and arrays will not be 5G, but can be 5G enabled e.g. with current software, future software, hardware upgrades or retrofitting etc.?
(d) What UK, EU and International safety standards does your 5G strategy and rollout comply with?
(e) I request proof e.g. a certificate from The Department for Infrastructure that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
5. Are you planning to rollout or have rolled out LED street lighting?
5.1 If yes, please answer these questions:
(a) What is the Central Management System (CMS) and specification of the software and hardware of the LED street light system?
(b) What type of waveform is the LED? e.g. Square wave?
(c) Can you control the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of the streetlight system using the CMS?
(d) Can you control the PWM of each streetlight that is connected to the system?
(e) What restrictions do you have in place for the control of the PWM?
(f) What is the UK, EU and International safety limit (low and high) for the amount of ‘flicker’ (Hz) the Human Body and eyes can be exposed to and for how long?
(g) I request to see the training manual and safety operation manual for the CMS and the LED streetlight system.
(h) Who is the company who is or has installed the CMS LED streetlight system?
(i) What company maintains and repairs the CMS and LED streetlight system?
(j) What entity and Officer is responsible for the safety standards for the CMS and LED streetlight system?
(k) I request proof e.g. a certificate from the Department for Infrastructure that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
(l) What is the amount of Blue Light leakage that is safe for the public and workers during the LED streetlights operation?
(m) What level of LED streetlight exposure is safe for the public at daytime and night time?
(n) Is there a legal requirement for diffusers to be fitted to LED streetlights?
(o) How have you have addressed the amount of Oxidative Stress on Human and Animal cells that is produced from LED?
5.2 If no, then I request a declaration from the Department for Infrastructure that you will not be installing LED streetlights in the future. If you cannot provide a declaration, I would like the following answered in the future tense:
(a) What is the CMS and specification of the software and hardware of the LED street light system?
(b) What type of waveform is the LED? e.g. Square wave?
(c) Can you control the Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) of the streetlight system using the CMS?
(d) Can you control the PWM of each streetlight that is connected to the system?
(e) What restrictions do you have in place for the control of the PWM?
(f) What is the UK, EU and International safety limit (low and high) for the amount of ‘flicker’ (Hz) the Human Body and eyes can be exposed to and for how long?

I request to see the training manual and safety operation manual for the CMS and the LED streetlight system.
(h) Who is the company who is or has installed the CMS LED streetlight system?
(i) What company maintains and repairs the CMS and LED streetlight system?
(j) What entity and Officer is responsible for the safety standards for the CMS and LED streetlight system?
(k) I request proof e.g. a certificate from the Department for Infrastructure that confirms that UK, EU and International safety standards for workers and the public have been met.
(l) What is the amount of Blue Light leakage that is safe for the public and workers during the LED streetlights operation?
(m) What level of LED streetlight exposure is safe for the public at daytime and night time?
(n) Is there a legal requirement for diffusers to be fitted to LED streetlights?
(o) How have you have addressed the amount of Oxidative Stress on Human and Animal cells which is produced from LED?
6. Where do you have 3G and 4G systems in public spaces and public roads?
7. As stated in EIR Request (received by DFI 21 September 2018) - Reference: DFI/2018-0387: “The Department does not have the powers to install 5G infrastructure on its street lighting assets.”
If the Department for Infrastructure does not have the powers to install 5G infrastructure on its street lighting assets, I request to know who currently has or will have the power to install 5G infrastructure on its street lighting assets?

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