An aerial survey using thermal imaging
can cover an entire local authority and yet, with our unique equipment, it
is detailed enough to provide data on individual
buildings.
Coupled with Digital Mapping
and GIS, a complete thermographic map of an estate,
town or city can be produced.
This can be viewed in your
GIS system as another layer alongside map data, such as OS Mastermap, and
aerial imagery.
With our new spatial analysis
system (see below), heat loss discrepancies can be viewed at a glance, with
buildings colour-banded to show a schematic interpretation of thermal data.
Benefits:
Highly economical way of surveying
entire districts
Identify poorly insulated homes and
businesses
Aid compliance with the Home Energy
Conservation Act
Identify vacant or unheated premises
View underground heating systems
Help the fight against winter deaths
This image is a
screen shot taken from a GIS system with our analysed thermal data
installed.
Every building has
been allocated a colour band based on the average pixel value from
the original greyscale thermal image (below).
This can be
applied to new surveys or older data, and greatly enhances the
survey's value.
Depending on your
existing set-up, the data can be made available across many
departments via your organisations intranet, or even to the public
over the internet.
The
data can also be colourised by the application of a palette,
allowing more detailed analysis. The thermal image on the
right shows typical housing stock
and clearly reveals empty property, poorly insulated homes and the
results of insulation schemes.
The data is
so detailed that heat loss through individual chimney pots can be
identified. Click the image to enlarge.
Two further examples can be seen below.
AERIAL THERMAL
IMAGING SURVEYS - TECHNICAL INFORMATION
Aerial thermal surveys of buildings to
record heat loss are usually carried out mid evening at least two hours after
sunset. This is considered to be the best time to allow solar dissipation
and homes that are only heated during the evening to attain a comfortable
heat level.
To make a “thermal map” of a large area
data collection is carried out by flying transects in a grid pattern. An
altitude of over 2000 ft is normal to comply with regulations and to give
better than one metre resolution. This altitude and resolution using wide
angle optics is a compromise of image quality and economy. Higher resolution
would either require a lower altitude or a narrower field of view which
clearly requires more flight lines and air time. An overlap of of each
line prevents “holes” occurring in the map due to possible drifting of the
aircraft.
Monochrome aerial thermal
image of landfill site.
Note the white core of internal combustion.
Lower white dots are sheep
The
thermal imaging equipment used in all our thermal surveys is of military
specification and produces high resolution imagery. The attitude of
the scan head is vertical to the ground and fitted in a stabilised mount.
All images are time/date stamped during the survey and can be hidden after
processing.
Twin engine dedicated survey aircraft
are always used at night over urban areas. The aircraft is fitted with CCNS
satellite navigation to enable exact flight lines. Post flight “actual”
flight lines are printed to scale to overlay on an O.S. map and for future
G.I.S. reference.
Digital images are produced, each having
an identity and O.S. map reference in grid strips or line runs. The data
necessarily has to be produced into a useable file format prior to G.I.S.
conversion. The first stage process data retains all original information
and being referenced to an O.S. map can be used on almost any pc using
off-shelf software. Thermal data is always recorded in flight in monochrome
to retain full resolution, however, simple conversion to colourise the
images is useful for specific analysis and presentation purposes.
Full technical support in data analysis,
training, presentations and public exhibitions are always available as part
of our services.
