In recent years, innovative technologies have shaped the delivery and transmission of several media types. Several mediums are used to effectively pass along information, particularly in major urbanized areas. A street pole LED display is one of these mediums. In this article, we cover everything you need to know about it.
What is a Street Pole LED?
In the simplest terms, this is a platform with several functions. Its functions can vary based on its components. In another section, we outline the common components of a standard street pole LED.
The construction and function of this platform differ from a regular street pole used to light the street when it gets dark. While the LED street pole can have lighting elements, it is not its primary function. These poles are fitted with LED screens that are used for advertising, signage, and disseminating information.
How Does Street Pole LED Work?
LED billboards and digital signage are the most prevalent forms of digital outdoor advertising or signage. The mechanisms of how these types of DOOH (Digital Out-of-home) advertising is self-explanatory. Street pole LEDs apply a similar logic but with some distinctions.
Essentially, an LED screen that resembles a giant smartphone is mounted on a vertical pole on the side of the street. This screen is then programmed wirelessly to display different kinds of content based on the advertiser.
The LED screen is the dominant feature of the street pole but there are other components that work in tandem with it. Every part has its specific purpose that helps with the ultimate goal of the street pole.
Components of A Street Pole LED
As an ecosystem, the LED display on the street pole has to be supported by peripheral components. The standard ones include;
Digital display
To be able to achieve functions like advertising, you need a reliable digital display. LED technology is used since it is the most reliable display technology. It has several elements that make it practical for outdoor environments.
Various considerations are made when choosing the digital display. Primarily, the installers consider the intended purpose and location. For instance, if the LED display is solely intended for advertising, it has to have high brightness for clear visuals. However, an LED display for signage would still work regardless of its pixel density.
Control module
The digital display has to be controlled either remotely or on-site. This happens with the help of an onboard control module. These modules house the hardware that receives and translates the signal that is supposed to be displayed.
A control module includes graphics cards, a color calibrator, a fiber transmitter, and a receiver. These components work hand in hand to make sure the display is of high quality as expected. However, hardware in the control module will vary depending on the design and manufacturer of the street pole LED.
Environmental sensors
Some functions of street pole LED require sensors. These environmental sensors serve as detectors of near-field subjects or actions that influence their function. For instance, street poles that are used to display weather information have sensors for temperature, humidity, and other conditions.
These sensors are programmed to collect information and analyze information which is then translated and displayed on the LED screen. Other sensors could include cameras that are used to monitor traffic and display important information for road users.
Power supply
Like other digital systems, street poles require power to operate. Components like the LED screen need the power to broadcast and the light to be powered. In some cases, street poles are powered by solar panels. Additionally, they can be powered by other sources of electricity.
The power supply is a central unit where the power source connects to the street pole. It distributes the power to the various components according to the requirements. This is the most essential feature of a street pole LED.
Cooling system
Typically, the street pole LED systems run continually for extended periods. As such, they are prone to heat dissipation which can affect their performance. This means they have to be cooled to avoid the effects of overheating. Street pole LEDs have cooling systems that are supposed to cool them.
The cooling systems vary depending on the design of the street pole. Some have temperature monitors, fans, or hydraulic coolers. Whichever the type, the goal remains the same; to manage the temperature levels in the system.
Integrated systems
You will find some street poles that only have an LED screen. These are mainly traditional models. The modern street pole LEDs have integrated systems that augment the function of the whole ecosystem or add extra functionalities to it.
These integrated systems include smart lights and audio components. The lights are usually automatically controlled by the LED controller. The audio component is used to add an auditory feature to the system. These and more systems elevate the street pole and make it support smart city infrastructure.
Features Of A Street Pole LED Display
As a system, a street pole LED has a set of features that ensure it performs optimally at all times. These features can be thought of as supporting characteristics that are specific to this system. Some of them include;
Highly resistant to harsh conditions
Street pole LEDs are mounted in the open. This means they are exposed to conditions that are likely to degrade them. In other words, they are prone to harsh environmental conditions. These conditions, including temperature and humidity, can significantly reduce the lifespan of an LED display.
However, street pole LED manufacturers account for these possibilities in the fabrication of the system. They effectively use resistant materials and means to make the chassis of the system tolerant to harsh environments. With the exemption of external accelerators, an LED display can last up to ten years without breaking down.
High brightness for outdoor viewing
Clarity of content displayed is required in outdoor environments. As such, the LED screen in the pole is supposed to have high brightness and luminosity. This is achieved by using high-pixel-density LED modules.
The brightness of daytime doesn’t create enough contrast that’s needed to see content clearly as is the case in enclosed situations. Therefore, a screen with high brightness is needed to enhance visibility.
Double-sided display
This feature is essential since it increases the viewership of the content displayed on the LED screen. In essence, it is achieved by ensuring the LED system has a back and front screen. This ensures that people from different sides of the street will see the content at the same time.
Remote control and management
Most street pole LEDs are controlled remotely. This is simply due to logistical challenges that would exist if they were to be controlled on-site. Remote control and management means the content displayed is aired from a central location and relayed to the display via Wifi or other wireless network.
Apart from being an effective approach, this method ensures a unified quality control of the content displayed. The ability to check the content beforehand gives the controller more leverage.
Synchronization across multiple displays
At a given time, you will find a whole street displaying identical content. The synchronicity feature of the street pole LEDs enables this. This synchronization is facilitated by specialized software.
On the other hand, uniformity of content across multiple screens can be enabled by the local area network (LAN). This occurs by connecting all the LED screens to a local network and then using this network to control the displayed content. This approach is equally effective at unifying multiple street pole LED displays.
Energy-saving technology
One of the major concerns in the world is energy consumption, especially in major smart cities. Therefore, there is a need to be intentional with energy usage to avoid the devastating effects of overconsumption of non-renewable energy.
In this case, you will find that most street pole LEDs utilize renewable sources of energy like wind and solar. These energy sources are cleaner and safer for the environment. If their access is limited, the non-renewable sources are monitored and controlled using intelligent technologies to achieve the same goal.
Adaptive brightness
This feature is quite important since it is tied to other features like energy-saving capabilities and brightness control. Adaptive brightness means that the LED system automatically changes the brightness level based on the surrounding conditions. For instance, when it gets dark, it becomes brighter for better visibility and vice versa.
Adaptive brightness converses energy and offers a pleasant viewing experience for the target audience. Both of these are important since they save energy and impress the people viewing the displayed content.
Differences Between LED Signage And Street Pole LED
It is almost impossible to distinguish an LED signage from a street pole LED. For one, they have an almost similar form factor. Secondly, their functions can overlap to some extent based on their designs and installations.
Still, there are clear differences between the two types of displays. The most prevalent difference between the two is form factor and installation. While LED signage is installed in elevated positions, street pole LED is installed at an almost direct view distance. This is done because street pole LEDs are meant to be viewed in close proximity.
Similarly, street pole LED displays have subtle unique features. For instance, they are much more durable and expensive compared to LED signage. These are important because they support its functionalities and service life.
Why Street Pole LED Displays Are Effective?
Street pole LEDs are held in high regard because they are effective at advertising or supporting other intended purposes. If you are wondering why that is the case, the following reasons will clarify for you.
Huge audience
The ability to reach huge audiences at a given time makes street pole LED systems highly effective. To maximize audience reach, they are installed in busy streets where they are a high probability of being seen by both pedestrians and motorists. Also, the double-sided feature doubles the viewership, which effectively contributes to high audience reach.
Inexpensive compared to huge led billboards
Unless you are installing street pole LED displays for yourself, they are quite affordable to rent. LED billboards and other digital signage are costly to rent because of the physical space accorded.
Even more, it would not make sense to rent a billboard for certain adverts since they would be incompatible. To put it differently, the street pole LED screens are optimized for specific types of adverts.
Benefits Of A Street Pole LED Display
Using a street pole LED comes with several advantages. This goes beyond the features we discussed earlier. The benefits inform you why this would be a better alternative compared to a similar medium of advertisement. These are some of the common benefits you should expect from a street pole LED.
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They improve the aesthetics of the street
You have to admit that street pole LED displays are pleasant to look at. They appear modern and polished, which makes the street feel complete. In some countries, you will find the city administration using them as entertainment centers to create a welcoming atmosphere for the dwellers and passersby.
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They occupy small space
Space maximization is an important infrastructural element that is used in urban design. As such, the small size of street pole LED displays contributes positively to this aspect since they occupy a small area.
One could argue that the street pole LEDs are installed in multiples. However, that does not dispute the fact that an individual display occupies a small space. To you, this is important also because you will not require to factor in a lot of elements when designing your adverts or other information to display.
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Street pole LED displays are multifunctional
The ability to display different kinds of content on the street pole LED makes this system beneficial to you. As an example, you can run two advertising campaigns simultaneously where they are displayed at different times of the day.
Multifunctional also means that the system can be used for other purposes other than advertising. In the next section, we will highlight all the different ways a street pole LED can be used.
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These systems contribute to the smart city concept
Currently, most cities are aiming at reaching smart city status. This is a situation where the city collects essential data to help it run successfully. This is an indirect advantage to you in the sense that the administration benefits then it improves the environment for you.
For instance, the street pole LED can be used to collect traffic data. This data can then be processed and analyzed to gather insights on how to manage the traffic. For you, this is essential since will help you realign your advertising efforts accordingly.
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Street pole LED displays are convenient
By streamlining and centralizing essential services such as weather data, these displays make the life of a dweller or visitor quite convenient. It helps one plan effectively since this information is usually broadcasted live.
Convenience is also seen in the additional integrated functionalities services that some street pole LEDs have. A good example is microservices such as Wifi hotpots which improve connectivity in the city. Eventually, the benefits of street pole LED displays come down to the intended use and its design.
Drawbacks Of A Street Pole LED Display
These systems have notable demerits that can influence your decision-making when looking for a suitable advertising medium. Some of these disadvantages include the following;
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Overuse can cause information overload
The world today has almost stepped away from traditional advertisement methods. The effect of this is information overload. Everywhere you look, there is probably an LED screen streaming some form of advertisement.
Studies have shown that this has negative impacts on prospective customers as well as onlookers. For instance, the customer is bombarded with marketing gimmicks to the point where it becomes hard to make a decision fast.
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Congestion leads to visual pollution
When too many LED displays are mounted in close proximity, it can have the adverse effect of polluting the environment. The pollution will be in the form of visual distraction and intrusion. In other words, the adverts can feel too pushy. This could happen from poor planning and the result could be unappealing.
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Light pollution concerns
When it gets dark, the bright LED displays lighten up their surroundings. While this is positive to an extent, it can also be catastrophic. This negative condition is what is referred to as light pollution or in other words too much artificial light.
The reason why too much light is a disadvantage is because LED screens produce too much blue light which has been shown to affect the human eye. Therefore, the overpopulation of street pole LEDs can adversely affect human health.
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Restrictive measures
Some cities usually enforce measures to control the installation of street pole LEDs for various reasons. Some of the reasons could include urban plans and also concerns about pollution. Either way, these measures could be pretty damning if you want to advertise in a specific location.
Applications: How To Use A Street Pole LED Display
Street pole LED displays have many use cases. Business owners like you would mostly focus on advertisements. On the other hand, city administrators would use these systems for information display to the general public. Let us look at these applications in more detail.
Display advertisement
Most forms of digital outdoor adverts fall under the category of display advertisement. This type of advertisement utilizes images, videos, and text to share marketing messages with a targeted audience. It is an effective way to market since humans recall visuals better.
Digital signage
This concept is an improvement of traditional signs. A sign is essentially meant to direct or offer important information. Digital signage takes this concept a step further by making the information more accessible and dynamic. Street pole LED displays can be used to show weather data, directions, and other crucial information to the public.
Entertainment broadcasts
The entertainment industry adopts creative ways to reach wider audiences on the go. One of these ways is the use of street pole LED displays to broadcast entertaining content. In effect, they create an enjoyable atmosphere for the people.
Emergency alerts
This is among the most critical uses of street pole LED displays. The ability to relay vital information to the public in real-time has a significant impact. Think of a situation where every LED display suddenly starts to caution people about a natural calamity that has been detected by meteorologists.
Public WIFI hotspots
Street pole LED systems can have wireless internet and serve as a hotspot for the nearby community or passersby. In a world where the internet is a necessity, this application is quite essential. If anything, the LED controller needs the internet to control the display; therefore, installing WiFi on the system is beneficial in many ways.
What To Consider When Choosing A Street Pole LED
If you want the best results, you need to deliberate when choosing a street pole LED display for your next advertisement campaign. To that effect, there are a few things you need to consider. They include;
Size and design
These are the ultimate factors that need to be considered when choosing the ideal street pole LED display. They are important because they help you pick the right and fitting display based on the specifics of your use case. In other words, you need something that will be compatible with the type of activity.
Remote cluster control capabilities
Being able to control a street pole LED display remotely is a huge deal. It means you can change the displayed content, troubleshoot, and generally control the display so long as you have access. This feature makes your work more streamlined.
Intelligent support features
On top of the basic features, an LED display that has smart features to support its functionalities is reliable. Smart features could range from basic interactive capabilities to advanced immersive experiences. Moreover, the more responsive the system is, the more it will most likely attract your target audience.
Local regulations and restrictions
It is always recommended to comply with local regulations that dictate the use of LED displays for outdoor advertisement. This will ensure you are compliant and distance you from possible legal entanglements.
The target audience
Finally, always make sure your decisions are guided by your target audience. Learn about the things that appeal to the demographic of your audience and incorporate the findings in the design and implementation of the street pole LED adverts. This will help you customize everything to match the taste and preference of your audience.
Conclusion
The aim of this article was to provide you with an in-depth look at street pole LED displays and their role in outdoor advertisement. We have covered their features, mechanisms, applications, pros and cons, and best practices. Use this guide when dealing with anything to do with street pole LEDs. Visit this page for more information.
