A central control apparatus to optimize an outdoor lighting network including a plurality of lighting units, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a memory operably connected to the processor; and a communication module operably connected to the processor for communication with the outdoor lighting network; characterized in that the processor is operable to: receive a configuration request, optimization objectives/constraints, as well as lighting requirements, an illuminance model, and a cost model to illuminate an area of interest associated with the configuration request, wherein lighting requirements comprise lighting parameters selected from intensity, uniformity and color temperature for lighting units over the area of interest, wherein the illuminance model relates output of lighting units to aggregate light performance at a point of interest in the area of interest, and wherein the cost model determines the total energy and/or operation cost of lighting units; identify lighting units of the plurality of lighting units associated with the configuration request; determine whether at least one of lighting requirements, illuminance model, and cost model have changed; update at least one of the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model when at least one of the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model has changed; generate instructions to optimize operation of the identified lighting units as a function of the optimization objectives/constraints, the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model; and direct the identified lighting units to illuminate the area of interest in accordance with the optimized operation. a processor; a memory operably connected to the processor; and a communication module operably connected to the processor for communication with the outdoor lighting network; receive a configuration request, optimization objectives/constraints, as well as lighting requirements, an illuminance model, and a cost model to illuminate an area of interest associated with the configuration request, wherein lighting requirements comprise lighting parameters selected from intensity, uniformity and color temperature for lighting units over the area of interest, wherein the illuminance model relates output of lighting units to aggregate light performance at a point of interest in the area of interest, and wherein the cost model determines the total energy and/or operation cost of lighting units; identify lighting units of the plurality of lighting units associated with the configuration request; determine whether at least one of lighting requirements, illuminance model, and cost model have changed; update at least one of the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model when at least one of the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model has changed; generate instructions to optimize operation of the identified lighting units as a function of the optimization objectives/constraints, the lighting requirements, the illuminance model, and the cost model; and direct the identified lighting units to illuminate the area of interest in accordance with the optimized operation.