IOT-based intelligent street system: Design and implementation of an educational prototype for smart urban infrastructure

Rapid urbanisation and the proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices are creating unprecedented demand for intelligent, energy-efficient urban infrastructure. Traditional street systems fixed- schedule lighting, static traffic signals, and periodic waste collection consume unnecessary energy and operational resources without adapting to real-time conditions. This paper presents the design and hardware implementation of an integrated smart street prototype consisting of three coordinated subsystems: an adaptive LED street lighting system driven by ambient-light and motion sensors, a sensor-based intelligent traffic management system with adaptive signal timing and an IoT-enabled waste container with fill-level monitoring and automated actuation. All subsystems are controlled by Arduino microcontrollers, and a centralised LabVIEW dashboard provides real-time monitoring of the entire system. Three-dimensional container components were designed in SolidWorks. The prototype was developed as a bachelor’s degree capstone project at the Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, demonstrating the educational value of integrating embedded programming, sensor fusion, energy analysis, and 3D design within a single engineering project. Results indicate measurable energy savings in lighting operation and logistics benefits from demand-driven waste collection scheduling.