PHILIPS

Keeping the traffic moving with tunnels

Image: A modern tunnel entrance with bright LED lighting, cars, and directional signage.

The increasing demand for tunnels to manage road networks, offer quicker connections, and protect urban areas from traffic dangers highlights the critical role of tunnel lighting. Tunnel lighting is a complex field where performance is key for safety and comfort. Maintenance is critical due to physical restraints and limited access, while energy efficiency is also a significant factor.

Tunnel & Underpass lighting

With extensive experience in road and tunnel lighting, Philips offers specialized LED lighting products and comprehensive service packages. This provides a single-source, integrated, and intelligent lighting solution from concept to completion, backed by exceptional after-sales care.

Our changing world and evolving needs

Urbanization is driving the need for underground travel to improve infrastructure and free up space. This necessitates advanced tunnel lighting solutions that enhance visibility, reduce accidents, and prevent costly disruptions. Growing concerns about energy costs, availability, and environmental impact also drive demand for low-power, low-emission lighting. Financial constraints push authorities to reduce energy and maintenance costs, requiring new business models to meet infrastructure demands.

Why do we need tunnel lighting?

Tunnel lighting is essential to ensure motorists experience the same levels of safety, confidence, and comfort as they do on open roads. It must illuminate the presence and movement of other road users and objects, and clearly define the tunnel's geometry to guide drivers safely and efficiently. Lighting plays a crucial role in adapting drivers' eyes to different light levels, from bright daylight entrances to the lower interior levels, and back again at exits.

Lighting your way

Image: A tunnel interior with bright, modern lighting.

Philips addresses the diverse requirements of all stakeholders involved in tunnel lighting projects. With industry-leading expertise, Philips creates optimal tunnel solutions tailored to project-specific needs regarding cost, comfort, and care.

Stakeholder Perspectives

Tunnel owners and operators

Require reliable, safe, efficient, and easy-to-manage lighting solutions. Philips' offerings provide clear information on system health, service life, and maintenance, enabling investment optimization. Long service life reduces maintenance and energy costs, while state-of-the-art LED technology ensures driver comfort. Philips acts as a reliable, long-term partner.

Tunnel users

Demand high-quality lighting for safe passage. Philips' solutions offer good color rendering, excellent uniformity, and guidance via LED lighting. They optimize traffic flow and minimize disruption with guaranteed performance and lifetime. Features like less bluish light benefit elderly drivers, and white light improves spatial perception for those sensitive to confined spaces.

Tunnel installation companies

Philips provides integrated lighting solutions with clearly defined responsibilities, simplifying system integration and control. This allows installation teams to focus on electrical and mechanical work, benefiting from a single, knowledgeable partner for the entire project, from design to commissioning.

Tunnel maintenance companies

Solutions are designed for longevity and ease of maintenance, supported by service packages and predictable expenses for Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) estimation. Control and monitoring systems provide real-time health status, enabling proactive maintenance planning. Extended lifetime reduces tunnel closures, downtime, and disruption, significantly lowering maintenance costs.

The principles of tunnel lighting

Tunnel lighting is crucial for road safety, helping motorists adapt from daylight to interior tunnel light levels, and vice versa at night. Lighting must provide the right balance of comfort and safety for road users.

Entrance lighting

At daylight entrances, the tunnel appears dark (black hole effect) due to lower interior light levels. Eyes struggle to adapt, limiting visibility. Adequate entrance lighting is vital to ensure drivers can see objects within their stopping distance and feel confident entering the tunnel without slowing down, maintaining traffic flow. Lighting levels are adjusted based on external brightness (sunny/cloudy), often using L20 portal luminance measurements. Gradual reduction of light levels through a transition zone, following CIE curves, aids eye adaptation.

Interior lighting

Once eyes adapt, sufficient interior lighting is needed for safe passage, typically provided by regularly spaced luminaires. Daytime luminance levels range from 2-12 Cd/m², increasing at night to approximately twice the level of adjoining roads.

Tunnel exits

Exit zones are less critical as eyes adapt quickly to increased brightness. Additional lighting may be beneficial for longer tunnels, primarily to aid visibility when drivers look back in their rear-view mirrors, typically activated during the day.

Long versus short tunnels

Lighting requirements vary by tunnel length. Short tunnels (< 25m) with full exit visibility, good daylight penetration, high wall reflectance, and limited traffic may not require lighting. Medium tunnels (25-200m) can be lit for long tunnels or with limited daytime lighting. Long tunnels (> 200m) always require tunnel lighting.

Tunnel Zones and Standards

Diagram illustrating tunnel zones: Access Zone, Entrance Zone, Transition Zone, Interior Zone, Exit Zone, with drive direction indicated.

Tunnel standards: Each country has its own standards and requirements, making tunnel consultancy a localized service. Philips aims to be a global partner with local experience and support.

Lighting concepts and light distributions

Each tunnel zone has specific lighting design and performance criteria. Various concepts and light distributions are developed to balance visibility, safety, and costs.

Entrance versus interior lighting

Entrances require high light levels with discontinuous luminaire spacing, while interiors need lower levels with continuous spacing, often with just day and night stages.

Lighting regulation

Counterbeam lighting is best suited for specular road surfaces; it is not suitable for diffuse concrete surfaces. The choice between counterbeam and symmetrical lighting depends on driver comfort and cost considerations.

Entrance light distributions

The two main distributions are symmetrical and counterbeam. Symmetrical lighting offers lower contrast and is perceived as less glary, allowing central or cornice mounting. Counterbeam lighting directs light towards traffic flow, creating high object contrast, which can accept lower entrance lighting levels but may cause higher glare. It is not suitable for cornice mounting.

Interior light distributions

Interior lighting typically uses symmetrical lighting, with options for point source (fewer luminaires, lower uniformity, potential flickering) or linear lighting (more luminaires, higher uniformity, no flickering). Luminaire positioning (central or cornice) is determined by guidance needs, maintenance considerations, or traffic structure.

Our TotalTunnel proposition

Image: A tunnel interior with bright LED lighting.

TotalTunnel: A Connected System Approach for Tunnel Lighting

Diagram showing the four pillars of TotalTunnel: Luminaires, Guidance lighting, Systems, and Services.

Luminaires

To support tunnel-specific lighting techniques.

Guidance lighting

To guide traffic and ensure a safe exit.

Systems

From basic to advanced monitoring systems for full control of the lighting system.

Services

From concept design and commissioning to lifecycle services, ensuring project delivery and investment protection.

Building Blocks for Success

Philips integrates four key building blocks – Luminaires, Guidance lighting, Systems, and Services – to create bespoke lighting solutions offering precise levels of quality, guidance, control, and service support, all designed with LED technology in mind.

Balancing needs

Tunnel lighting is a specialist application requiring tailored solutions. Philips focuses on customer needs, understanding that each country and project has unique standards and challenges. The company adapts to local requirements while maintaining a global perspective, prioritizing client needs whether comfort or cost.

Long-term support

Philips offers long-term commitment and project excellence. The company advises on lighting choices, considering not just initial investment but also long-term costs. Expertise is provided from the outset, with full commitment throughout the tunnel installation's lifetime, including after-sales support.

Building blocks for success

Philips offers a range of products within each building block, from value-driven to high-performance alternatives. Components are co-selected based on specific needs to create unique total lighting systems, focusing on initial investment versus Total Cost of Ownership (TCO).

An attractive Total Cost of Ownership

TotalTunnel offers a competitive TCO compared to conventional lighting. Superior system efficiency reduces energy costs, while minimized maintenance and installation, coupled with robust design, extend the system's lifetime.

Tunnel lighting luminaires

Tunnel zones have distinct lighting requirements. Entrances need high light levels with minimal spacing, while interiors require lower levels. Philips' extensive luminaire portfolio enables the creation of lighting concepts that balance visibility, safety, and costs.

Dedicated LED design

Philips focuses on optimized LED luminaire design for peak performance in all tunnel applications. Dedicated solutions are available for specific lighting concepts and configurations, utilizing high-quality optics for efficiency and considering tunnel geometry and materials.

Maintenance concepts

Designed for minimal disruption, Philips' luminaires feature easy installation and maintenance. They are built to withstand harsh tunnel environments, ensuring best-in-class longevity and serviceability.

Light your way

Luminaire-level solutions provide high standards of comfort and safety, with options for linear or point source lighting and various optics. Intelligent control, including digital control and monitoring, supports advanced dimming features.

What is driving your project?

Philips offers a balanced selection of luminaires for all tunnel applications, ranging from basic to high-performance options that deliver significant benefits in efficiency and TCO, catering to diverse project focuses and budgets.

System approach

Philips designs LED luminaires with the entire system in mind, ensuring similar lifetime expectancy across different tunnel zones. This system-centric approach minimizes replacement inconvenience and streamlines routine maintenance.

Local knowledge and support

Philips provides a comprehensive portfolio of adaptable tunnel lighting solutions. A dedicated local support team works closely with clients from the specification stage to ensure the right solution is implemented for their specific tunnel project.

Luminaire Product Lines:

• FlowStar: Stainless steel point source luminaire for extreme corrosive environments. An alternative for HPS 400W applications, designed for high flux, efficiency, and long lifetime. Features modular sealed build, lifecycle service packages, and TunneLogic compliance.
• TubeLine: Interior linear lighting, an alternative to fluorescent lighting. Offers high comfort, low glare, good guidance, and no flicker effect. Features a smooth, shallow design for maximum overhead space, remote driver options, dedicated LED design, and compliance with Philips tunnel controls.
• TubePoint: A modular, adaptable point source tunnel luminaire, serving as a cost-effective LED alternative for HPS. It offers a wide application range with various optics/lumen packages, is fully serviceable with an integrated driver, complies with Philips tunnel controls, and features dedicated LED design for optimal performance.

For the complete global portfolio, visit the online product catalogue here.

Tunnel guidance lighting

EU Directives and CIE standards mandate guidance markers for pedestrian evacuation, road edge marking, and illumination around exit doors. Road markers enhance safety, guidance, and traffic separation.

Inductive power

Utilizing inductive power transfer technology, these markers are simple to use and install with minimal components. A single power supply can power up to 200 markers over 2.5 km, allowing for completely sealed units with no wiring entry points, offering corrosion resistance and resilience compared to hard-wired products.

Installation

Tunnel markers can be installed in new builds, refurbishments, and retrofits. The system includes markers, power supply, and control functions. Installation is quicker and cheaper than hard-wired lights, using magnetic induction. Marker replacement is as simple as removing a faulty unit and installing a new one.

Guidance and Lane Markers

Guidance markers: Sidewalk LED marker systems efficiently direct drivers and passengers towards emergency exits, improving driver guidance. They are IP69 rated (water/dust resistant), can run over long distances (200 markers over 2.5 km from one supply), are individually powered and programmable, offer quick and affordable installation, are spark-free, pose no electrocution danger, and have a low TCO.

Lane markers: Improve driver guidance, maintain lane separation, and enforce lane discipline. They are also IP69 rated, can run over long distances (200 markers over 2 km from one supply), are individually powered and programmable, offer quick and affordable installation, are spark-free, pose no electrocution danger, and have a low TCO.

Systems

Offer long range (100 to 2500m of marker system), safe/contact-free power and communication transfer (IPT-ICT), flexible integration with other systems (digital/serial I/O), programmability (standard or project-specific), and robust power supply for reliable operation.

Tunnel intelligent lighting systems

Philips' integrated solution design, including intelligent lighting systems, reduces the burden on installers by minimizing complex electrical designs and labor. This enables better traffic management and minimizes capital expenditure for tunnel authorities over the infrastructure's lifetime.

End-to-end solution

Philips offers end-to-end lighting systems for any tunnel project, whether new build, refurbishment, or retrofit, from short underpasses to long tunnels.

Intelligent control systems

These systems provide a dynamic approach to meet project objectives and client specifications. Lighting design output and support from application engineers allow for off-site configuration and programming, with systems installed ready for use.

Delivering

Critical installation timescales are managed with minimal system components and plug-and-play methodology, ensuring quick and simple on-site installation and cost efficiencies.

The user-friendly interface of the lighting control software allows operators and maintainers easy navigation for monitoring system status and operational control (local or via SCADA network). System data is readily accessible for trend analysis, fault monitoring, and operational hours, providing comprehensive information. High performance and system longevity are crucial for tunnel network operation and traffic flow. Philips' expertise across many countries ensures a balance of cost, comfort, and care.

BaseLogic: Easy and Cost-Effective Control of LED Tunnel Lighting

?No new wiring

?No new infrastructure

BaseLogic is a basic monitoring and step dim adaptive tunnel lighting system for existing tunnels requiring higher quality lighting. It requires limited CAPEX and offers low OPEX, maintaining Philips' high-quality performance. For refurbishment, it uses existing mains cables for communication, reducing installation time and costs. Luminaires are pre-programmed. BaseLogic is modular and can be standalone or integrated with SCADA systems.

Reduce operating and maintenance costs

BaseLogic provides real-time system condition information to tunnel owners, operators, and maintenance companies. It offers basic health monitoring and fault notification, enabling immediate corrective actions. This maintains tunnel safety and comfort while reducing operating and maintenance costs.

€Requires limited capital expenditure

?Offers low operating expenses

✔️Easy installation no new cabling needed

Applications

BaseLogic is ideal for all tunnels and underpasses, from short underpasses with day/night schedules to multi-zone road tunnels adapting to environmental brightness. Integration with tunnel management systems is possible. It is specifically targeted at existing tunnels with aging lighting needing efficiency and cost-effectiveness, offering built-in flexibility and modularity.

Images: A short underpass, a high-speed road tunnel, and a multi-zone tunnel.

Diagram: Graphical representation of energy saving benefits from dynamic digital control versus conventional switched systems.

Specifications

BaseLogic system specifications

Image: BaseLogic TCU unit.

TunneLogic: Scalable and Easy to Integrate Tunnel Lighting Control and Monitoring System

Easy configuration and commissioning

TunneLogic is designed for easy configuration and commissioning. A PC-based configuration wizard allows building project profiles and parameters off-site. Data is uploaded via USB to the Master Control Unit (MCU) during commissioning. Minimal components and plug-and-play methodology ensure a simple system architecture, reducing installation costs. SCADA system integration is straightforward using standard Modbus interfaces.

Extensive monitoring and control (system health)

The TunneLogic graphical user interface offers simple navigation for control and monitoring. Structured tabs provide access to data logging for photometer status, system faults, and burn hours. Local and remote access allows for system performance monitoring and technical support, aiding in planning maintenance and repairs, thereby reducing functional closures and traffic disruption.

Lighting performance

Optimum performance is achieved through a system solution of luminaires and controls. TunneLogic is dedicated to LED technology, offering continuous dimming and L20 control for precise light levels, resulting in significant energy savings. Communication redundancy and failsafe options ensure a safe, robust solution for increased system longevity and operational performance.

Cost savings

The system is low-cost and feature-rich. Continuous dimming with precise L20 control ensures optimal lighting levels, while easy commissioning reduces design and engineering time and costs, allowing for earlier tunnel opening.

Applications

Images: Short underpasses, High-speed road tunnels, Long tunnels.

Diagram: Graphical representation of energy saving benefits of dynamic digital control over conventional switched systems.

Specifications

TunneLogic System Specifications

Tunnel services

Tunnel lighting is a technical application requiring external partner support. Philips offers a comprehensive services package to assist with project delivery and investment protection.

Advisory Services

Philips provides advisory services to maximize installation design benefits, especially when project design criteria information is unavailable. Services include: maintenance, operational, and life expectancy analysis; structural geometry and portal luminance evaluation; energy calculations and consumption advice; compliance checks; lighting design criteria and product specification advice; full lighting design proposals; and periodic inspections.

Project Services

With a turnkey project supply approach, Philips delivers projects from concept to completion. Services include project management, application engineering, contractor liaison, factory acceptance testing, logistic support, installation and commissioning, system integration, and site acceptance testing.

Lifecycle Services

Lifecycle services offer contracts guaranteeing long-lasting, cost-effective, warranty, and hassle-free performance from lighting solutions.

Lighting Capital

Philips Lighting Capital provides financing linked to cost savings, enabling the acquisition of state-of-the-art solutions with minimal upfront capital investment, ensuring positive cash flow from day one.

Diagram showing the circular flow of Philips Lighting services: Advisory Services, Lifecycle Services, Project Services, and Lighting Capital.

Sørnes Tunnel Case Study

The Sørnes Tunnel in Stockholm, Sweden, connects Kvarnholmen to Nacka. Utilizing Philips' TotalTunnel system, it became one of Sweden's first road tunnels to implement connected LED lighting, offering remote controllability and up to 75% energy savings.

For more inspiration, visit the case study browser here.

The Philips TotalTunnel approach saved us installation time as the cables were already fitted with plugs. We only had to mount the luminaires and connecting these in the mains.”