Thermal imaging technology has come a long way in the last 5 years but there are still some market leaders when it comes to choosing your drone equipment. This quick blog gives you the pros and cons of the industry leading equipment for thermal drone inspections.
1. The DJI M3T
An all-in-one camera and drone solution, the DJI M3T is one of the most commonly used drones for thermal inspections.
The Pros
✅ Exceptional imaging capabilities, thanks to the dual-camera system combining a 20-megapixel RGB sensor and a 12-megapixel thermal sensor, allowing for simultaneous visual and thermal inspections.
✅ Robust and compact enabling easy portability and deployment in various environments.
✅ The M3T integrates seamlessly with enterprise-focused drone software such as Hammer Missions, facilitating efficient data analysis, including temperature measurements.
The Cons
❌ Its thermal imaging capabilities, while powerful, may not be as good as standalone thermal cameras, which may limit suitability for certain applications which require highly precise thermal data.
❌ Whilst it's useful to have both a visual and thermal camera fitted on the same drone, in practice, you might have to fly the drone at different times of the day for high quality visual and thermal capture, limiting the power of having both cameras on 1 drone.
Watch an end-to-end thermal inspection using the M3T -
2. DJI Zenmuse H20T Thermal Camera
If you already have a drone and you’re looking for a standalone thermal camera, the DJI Zenmuse H20T offers a comprehensive solution for aerial inspections with its integrated multi-sensor capabilities.
The Pros
✅ Versatility - it combines a 20-megapixel RGB camera, a 12-megapixel thermal camera, a 23x hybrid optical zoom camera, and a laser rangefinder in one compact package, enabling users to capture detailed visual, thermal, and distance data in a single flight.
✅ The H20T's high-quality imaging and zoom capabilities make it ideal for various applications, not just thermal roof inspections.
✅ The H20T integrates seamlessly with enterprise-focused drone software, facilitating efficient data analysis and workflow integration.
The Cons
❌ The main drawback of the H20T is its higher price point compared to single-sensor payloads, which may act as a barrier to entry.
❌ Being a larger sensor, it also requires a larger drone to be flown and might not be the best choice for built up congested environments.
3. The FLIR Vue Pro Thermal Camera
The FLIR Vue Pro thermal camera offers an affordable yet powerful solution for drone-based thermal mapping and imaging applications.
The Pros
✅ High thermal sensitivity and resolution, providing detailed and accurate thermal imagery for various industries and applications - great if you’re doing more than roof inspections.
✅ Lightweight and easy to integrate with a wide range of drones, making it accessible to independent drone operators, smaller construction companies and enterprise users alike.
The Cons
❌ The FLIR Vue Pro’s lack of onboard recording capability means that users must rely on external recording devices, adding complexity to the setup and potentially increasing costs.
❌ It also lacks advanced features found in more expensive thermal cameras, such as radiometric data recording and interchangeable lenses, limiting its versatility for certain specialised applications.
Conclusion
As with any purchasing decision you have to weight up the pros and cons against your intended use. If thermal surveys are going to be a common requirement from clients then it makes sense to invest in the best technology possible. You also need to consider the quality of the data you'll need - are your clients just looking for a clear visual representation of underlying issues or is highly precise thermal data required?
Another point to think about is whether you want to future-proof your set up. If there's a likelihood that you'll want to upgrade the sensors or perhaps you'll want to use your thermal camera on different drone models then choose a thermal camera which is drone agnostic.
As we all become more environmentally aware, thermal surveys are becoming a common practice for retrospective repairs and maintenance as well as in the initial build process. If building inspections are your bread and butter it will pay to invest in one of these market-leading options.
If you're looking for a full workflow for thermal drone inspections we've put together this video:
Get to Grips with Thermal Inspection Data
Find out how easy it is to incorporate thermal data into your building inspections. Our software trial allows you to test out the software, see example projects and get to grips with the data.
Comments