Enhancing Inspection Methodology of Solar Power Plants Through Integrated Infrared Thermography and 3d Data Fusion

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-invasive imaging technique that enables qualitative and quantitative temperature analysis. In some thermographic applications, geometry and spatial relationships are crucial for analyzing surfaces and localizing thermal defects. These include photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems, a rapidly expanding sector in response to the growing demand for renewable energy that requires fast and accurate monitoring technologies for maintenance operations. This research aims to develop a technology to monitor the operation of solar modules and possible anomalies by simultaneously acquiring aerial images by connecting optical and thermal infrared sensors to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), obtaining thermal orthoimages as output. Results indicate significant improvements in accuracy and reproducibility, making this methodological approach a promising option for rapid monitoring compared to other current alternatives, making consumer-grade thermal imaging cameras accessible for thermal orthoimage generation.