Observing Surface Temperatures Across Various Land Use Types Using UAS Thermal Remote Sensing

Temperatures in North Carolina are steadily increasing, with average temperatures consistently above normal since the 1990s. Advancements in unmanned aerial system (UAS) technology have provided the opportunity to obtain high-resolution thermal imagery, which can be used to measure surface temperature for applications such as agriculture and public safety. This study uses the radiometric thermal camera of the DJI Mavic 3T Enterprise UAS to measure surface temperature within a study area on the campus of North Carolina State University (NCSU) in Raleigh, NC. The study area, 13 acres on NCSU’s Centennial Campus, encompasses a variety of land use types, including open grass, tree canopy, brick surface, concrete surface, and buildings with both black and white colored roofs. These variations in surface reflectivity yield thermal images with temperature values dependent on the land use type. Surface temperature values measured by the UAS thermal camera are compared to values observed by Kestrel 5400 sensors on ground-based tripods placed in each land use type. The data obtained in the study will be used to model surface temperatures across NCSU’s campus. The results of this study will help NCSU officials determine the locations of thermal hotspots on campus and take steps to mitigate heat in these areas.