Speaker
Description
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with infrared imaging systems have emerged as a promising tool for the assessment of energy performance in building envelopes. By enabling non‑contact, rapid, and wide‑area observations, UAV‑based thermal inspections offer new possibilities for identifying heat loss and performance irregularities that are difficult to detect using conventional, ground‑based methods.
This review provides an overview of the current state of research on the use of UAV‑mounted infrared thermography for building envelope energy audits. Rather than focusing on specific systems or experimental configurations, the review broadly examines how this technology has been applied in the context of building envelope evaluation, including common objectives, general workflows, and reported benefits. The review highlights the growing interest in aerial thermography as a complementary tool for envelope diagnostics, condition assessment, and energy performance evaluation.
At the same time, the review discusses commonly reported limitations and challenges associated with UAV‑based thermal inspections, such as sensitivity to environmental conditions, data interpretation uncertainties, and practical constraints related to operation and implementation. These challenges underline the need for cautious interpretation of thermal data and continued methodological development.
By synthesizing findings from existing literature and practices, this review aims to provide a high‑level perspective on the opportunities and challenges of UAV‑based energy auditing of building envelopes. The review concludes by outlining general directions for future research and development to support more reliable, standardized, and accessible use of aerial infrared thermography in building envelope energy audit.
