STREET fights and loud ­noises will activate new smart lights to be trialled in Glasgow.

They will react to noise and movement and will alert emergency services to any problems.

A city cycle path will also benefit from the new smart lights which will increase in brightness when someone approaches.

The trial is part of a £24million programme to show how technology can make life in the city smarter and safer. Glasgow beat 29 other ­cities across the UK to win funding for the project.

The lighting scheme will involve sensors being installed on lighting columns which will collect information such as footfall as well as air and noise pollution levels.

The smart lights will be programmed to increase in brightness if noise levels rise, for example as a result of a disturbance.

Sensors could be programmed to flash the lights, guiding emergency services to the exact location.

City council bosses say that would speed up police response times, making the city centre safer.

The lights could also be connected to an operations centre and alert CCTV operators who could zoom in on the site and check it out.

A spokesman said: "If there is an attack, fight or disturbance, the emergency services would be notified and the light which detected the issue could be programmed to flash to guide the police straight to the location."

Recently, the council announced it is to replace 10,000 unpopular ­orange sodium lights with new white LED lights, which will be brighter and more energy efficient.

Brian Devlin, executive director of land and environmental services, said: "The LED system will be far more responsive than the existing lighting network and could be operated remotely from the operations centre.

"This would allow for increased lighting if there was an event in the area such as a concert or street festival.

"Any faults in the system would also be automatically reported to the operations centre, speeding up repair times and increasing efficiency."

Intelligent street lights will also be installed on a stretch of off road cycle track.

At present, these are mainly unlit but it is hoped installing the new lights will encourage more people to cycle at night.

They will have sensors fitted on the lighting columns and the lights will increase in brightness as a cyclist approaches.

The sensors will also be able to collect information on air and noise pollution in the area.

No decision has yet been made about which locations will benefit from the trials.

Currently only 2% of journeys made into the city centre involve cycling, but council bosses say ­increasing the number of trips made by foot or bike would help cut carbon emissions, boost air quality, aid health and tackle obesity.

As part of the Future City/ Glasgow project, information will be collected by people who currently walk or cycle to identify the routes they use most to travel around the city.

The aim is to map the city and share the information through a MapGlasgow website being developed as part of the £24m project.

People will also be asked to report obstructions to cycling and share their positive experiences.

A separate Active Travel Journey Planner is also being developed which will allow cyclists and walkers to use their phone to easily and instantly find the most direct, flattest and off road route to their destination before leaving home.

Analysis of the information could be used to influence future spending on cycle routes or cycle lanes.

It could also help address the ­issues which put people off cycling such as safety and accessibility.

City council leader Gordon Matheson said: "Glasgow is proud to be demonstrating ­innovative ways in which technology can make life in the city smarter, safer and more sustainable.

"This city is continually evolving - we aim to become one of the most sustainable cities in Europe by cutting our carbon emissions and promoting sustainable technologies.

"The intelligent street lighting pilots have the potential to make the city an even safer place for everyone moving about on foot or by bike."

A council spokesman said: "We will be working with health providers, students, school pupils, walking groups and cycling clubs to evaluate the current provision and identify practical steps which could be taken to encourage more active travel."

vivienne.nicoll@eveningtimes.co.uk