Detection of seepage locations in dikes with Infrared (IR) Thermography

For a regional water authority, T&A Drone Services has carried out Infrared (IR) themorgraphy measurements to identify potential seepage locations that may indicate weak spots in the dikes.

Thermal images

T&A performed the survey with a high resolution radiometric thermal camera on a multi-rotor drone. This camera create a thermogram, a visual representation of the prevailing temperatures on the measured object with different colors indicating variations in temperatures. Weak spots in dikes not yet visible to the eye can be easily recognized on IR thermography images.

Environmental conditions

Temperature differences at ground level are caused by differences in the moisture content of the substrate. For these differences to be as large as possible, they should be caused by seepage water and not by rain. A cloudy day without rain is therefore optimal for making good infrared measurements. Prior to and during the flight, environmental and weather conditions are constantly taken into account. If these parameters cannot be adjusted, measurement data recorded on different measurement days cannot be compared.