Find the fault that has not failed yet.
Radiometric thermal drone inspection across Vancouver Island. Electrical connections under load, roof moisture after sunset, envelope heat loss in winter — flown in the conditions that make the fault visible, and paired with visual frames so you can see what you are looking at.
What thermal inspection sees
Almost every failure mode announces itself as heat before it announces itself as a failure. A loose electrical connection has resistance, resistance under load produces heat, and the heat is measurable long before the connection burns. Water trapped in a roof assembly has a different thermal mass to the dry deck around it, so as the roof cools after sunset the wet area stays warm and outlines itself.
A radiometric thermal sensor records a value for every pixel rather than just a false-colour picture, which means the imagery can be re-examined later, re-scaled, and compared against a survey from last year. That is the difference between a thermal photograph and a thermal survey.
The honest caveat
Thermal is comparative, not absolute. A derived temperature depends on the emissivity of what you are looking at, the distance, reflected background and the air in between. Used to compare one connection against its identical neighbour it is extremely reliable. Used as a thermometer it will produce confident nonsense. We record the conditions and deliver the radiometric data for a qualified thermographer or engineer to interpret.
What we fly it for
Substation and electrical thermography
Connections, busbars, switchgear and terminations imaged under load, with the asset in service rather than during an outage. Paired visual frames locate every finding.
Roof moisture surveys
Trapped water in flat and low-slope roof assemblies, flown after sunset when the differential is at its clearest. Combined with a measured orthomosaic so wet areas can be quantified for a repair scope.
Building envelope and heat loss
Missing, displaced or saturated insulation, thermal bridging and air leakage on large or tall buildings, at a coverage a handheld camera from the ground cannot achieve.
Powerline and distribution hardware
Hot joints and failing hardware along a corridor, flown alongside the visual condition pass. See powerline inspection.
Mechanical and process plant
Bearings, motors, steam and process lines, and refractory condition, where an unplanned failure costs far more than the survey.
Solar array inspection
Hot cells, failed bypass diodes and string faults across an array, located to the panel rather than to the row.
What arrives
| Deliverable | Format | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Radiometric thermal set | R-JPEG | Per-pixel data retained, so imagery can be re-analysed later |
| Paired visual frames | JPEG | Same position and framing, so a finding can be identified |
| Findings log | PDF + CSV | Located observations with the differential noted. Observations, not conclusions |
| Thermal orthomosaic | GeoTIFF | For roofs and arrays, so anomalies can be measured and quantified |
| Survey conditions record | Ambient, wind, load state, time relative to sunset, emissivity assumed |
| Data type | Radiometric |
|---|---|
| Electrical surveys | Under load |
| Roof surveys | After sunset |
| Envelope surveys | Winter |
| Standard turnaround | 48–72 hours |
| Outage required | No |
Thermal output is indicative rather than a measurement: derived temperatures depend on emissivity, distance, reflected background and atmospheric conditions. We provide inspection data and documentation. Condition assessments, structural evaluations and geotechnical opinions are reserved practice under the Engineers and Geoscientists BC framework and are not offered; evidence is supplied for a qualified professional to interpret.
What your procurement team will ask for
We fly under a Transport Canada Advanced Operations certificate with licensed pilots, which is the level required to operate in controlled airspace and near people. Airspace authorisations are obtained before mobilisation, and the airframe carries a certified parachute for work near occupied areas.
We carry $5M in aviation liability insurance and a certificate is available on request for your project file. WorkSafeBC clearance is available, site safety orientation is completed on arrival, and we work to the host contractor's requirements.
We provide inspection data and documentation. Condition assessments, structural evaluations and geotechnical opinions are reserved practice under the Engineers and Geoscientists BC framework and are not offered; evidence is supplied for a qualified professional to interpret.
- Transport Canada Advanced Operations certificate
- Licensed pilots, current flight reviews
- $5M aviation liability insurance
- WorkSafeBC clearance letter available
- Certified parachute for operations near people
- Airspace authorisation handled by us
- Written method note on every job
Across Vancouver Island
Based in Victoria, mobilising Island-wide and to the mainland for larger programs. Travel beyond the Capital Regional District is quoted at cost and stated up front.
Victoria & Saanich
Same-week mobilisation. YYJ controlled airspace handled routinely.
Langford & Westshore
Heavy residential and commercial development.
Nanaimo & central Island
Industrial, port and aggregate operations. YCD coordination.
Duncan & Cowichan
Forestry tenures, agricultural land, gravel operations.
Courtenay & Comox
North Island forestry and development. YBL coordination.
Elsewhere in BC
Mainland and remote programs on a mobilisation basis.
Thermal inspection, answered
Is a thermal image a temperature measurement?
A radiometric thermal image records a value per pixel from which a temperature can be derived, but the derived figure depends on the emissivity of the surface, the distance, reflected background radiation and the atmosphere between sensor and target. Treated carefully it is a reliable comparative tool — this connection is hotter than the identical one beside it — and that comparison is what finds faults. Treated as an absolute thermometer it will mislead you. We deliver the radiometric data with conditions recorded, and leave the interpretation to a qualified thermographer or engineer.
What can thermal actually find?
Anything where a fault produces a heat difference. Loose or corroded electrical connections running hot under load. Water trapped in a roof assembly, which holds heat and shows up after sunset as the surrounding deck cools. Missing or wet insulation in a building envelope. Overheating bearings and motors. Blocked or leaking pipework under a slab or a road.
When do you have to fly it?
Timing is more important than equipment. Electrical work needs the asset under meaningful load, or there is no heat differential to see. Roof moisture surveys are flown after sunset, once solar gain has left the dry areas and the wet ones are still releasing stored heat. Envelope surveys need a temperature difference between inside and out, which on this coast means winter. We will tell you the window rather than flying at a convenient time and delivering nothing.
Do you need the power switched off?
The opposite. Electrical thermography requires the circuit energised and ideally loaded, because the fault you are looking for is resistance generating heat. That is one of the strongest arguments for flying it: the inspection happens while the asset is in service rather than during an outage.
Can you do thermal and visual on one visit?
Yes, and we normally do. A thermal frame tells you something is wrong; the paired visual frame at the same position tells you what you are looking at. Delivered as a matched set so a finding can be seen both ways.
Tell us about the site
Location, rough area, what the data is for and your timeline. That is usually enough to quote without a site visit, and we reply within one business day.
Thermal findings are supplied as located, dated evidence with the survey conditions recorded. Interpretation and any resulting recommendation is the province of a qualified thermographer or professional engineer.