In one of Italy’s oldest and most captivating cities, technology becomes a tool for inclusion. Thanks to City Green Light, Matera takes a decisive step toward urban accessibility with the introduction of an innovative system designed to support the mobility of visually impaired and blind individuals.
The solution, developed by the startup LETIsmart and integrated into the public lighting upgrade plan, involves the use of ‘smart’ white canes that communicate with a network of radio beacons installed throughout the city. These devices transmit real-time directional audio information, enabling users to navigate safely through complex urban environments, where noise and architectural barriers pose daily challenges.
City Green Light’s approach goes beyond energy efficiency, which has led to a 74% reduction in consumption and over 1,300 tons of CO₂ saved each year, and embraces a broader vision: transforming the lighting network into an intelligent and inclusive infrastructure.
The LETIsmartVOCE system has been designed to integrate with traffic lights, pedestrian crossings, warning signs, public spaces, and transportation, ensuring service continuity and full accessibility.
This initiative is part of a broader project that included the upgrade of over 10,500 lighting points with next-generation LED lamps, the renovation of hundreds of supports, the installation of remote monitoring and maintenance systems, and the introduction of smart pedestrian crossings. All of this is powered by 100% renewable energy, with particular attention to enhancing the architectural beauty of the Sassi di Matera and protecting the nocturnal environment through solutions that reduce light pollution.
With this integrated vision, City Green Light transforms Matera into a virtuous example of a smart city: efficient, sustainable, and above all, inclusive.
Here, light is not just a service, but a universal language that enables everyone to navigate, experience, and fully engage in urban life.
