SUAS-Integrated Infrared Thermography for Rapid Thermal Mapping and Heat Transfer Evaluation

This study investigates the use of small unmanned aerial systems (SUAS) integrated with infrared thermography for rapid thermal mapping and quantitative heat transfer evaluation in building environments. Thermal data are captured from various structural and surface elements under real outdoor conditions, enabling both conductive and radiative heat analyses. Conductive heat transfer is evaluated on high-density concrete elements, designated as a shaded wall, a shaded balcony, and an exposed balcony, using paired surface and interior temperature measurements in conjunction with Fourier’s Law. The shaded balcony exhibits the highest heat transfer rate at 376 W, followed by the exposed balcony at 202.7 W, and the shaded wall at 164 W. For radiative heat transfer, analysis based on the Stefan–Boltzmann Law shows that a vegetative surface emits only 18.9 W, while a paved roadway emits a significantly higher 112.3 W, demonstrating the thermal buffering capacity of vegetation. These results confirm that SUAS-integrated thermal imaging provides a fast, scalable, and non-invasive method for identifying heat losses, detecting thermal inefficiencies, and informing energy-efficient urban and building design strategies.