Aerial thermography maps of Riga and Vilnius. Spectrum 8-14 µm

Almost all surfaces with temperatures above absolute zero emit energy. The wavelength depends on the surface temperature. An incandescent bulb emits high frequency energy in the form of visible light, while cooler surfaces like the pavement or a roof emit lower frequency energy known as thermal radiation. A visualisation in the form of a thermal map in bright colors is just one way to make it more readable. In practice each pixel represents a radiant temperature measurement. Thermal mapping is widely used in the Baltics to help operators of district heating systems make better decisions about the renovation of underground heat pipelines. Analysts apply quantitative and qualitative interpretation methods to identify underground hot water leaks, damage or deterioration of pipeline insulation. Cost effective aerial 3D modeling of external building envelopes, machine learning methods in analysis, and effective integration in Building Information Modeling will provide benefits in building construction, renovation and maintenance.