Driving Optimal Energy Efficiency and Performance in Smart Tunnel Lighting: An Advanced Approach's Pilot Implementation

This paper presents the extended activities undertaken to implement and validate the OVEST (Optimal Verification of Smart Tunnels) model on a road tunnel currently in service in Italy. OVEST models tunnel lighting systems (LSs) on the plane of energy consumption and lighting performance. In collaboration with ANAS S.p.A, the largest Italian road management company, a pilot case was carried out with the following objectives: to validate the effectiveness of OVEST in providing field data useful for reducing electric energy consumption, ensuring driving safety, and guiding maintenance management decisions. Additionally, a new, structurally accurate digital twin was deployed from as-built documentation, integrating daytime, nighttime and emergency lighting. A structured tuning process, based on field measurements, was applied to minimize discrepancies between simulated and measured illuminance values. The steps followed to implement the pilot case are detailed, starting from the selection of a tunnel in service, the modeling, to the selection, installation, and SCADA-integration of illuminance sensors. These advancements demonstrate OVEST's capability to support energy-efficient operation, safety compliance, and maintenance decision-making through both digital-twin validation and on-site monitoring.