Aerial Thermography Using UAV Platforms: Modernization of Critical Energy Infrastructure Diagnostics

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are increasingly being used as diagnostic platforms in electricity transmission and distribution, enabling safer and faster inspections compared to manual climbing operations or manned aerial support. This article presents an implementation-oriented inspection process that integrates RGB imaging, infrared (IR) thermography and (optionally) LiDAR documentation for critical energy infrastructure and photovoltaic (PV) installations. The survey consists of two stages: a preliminary stage under controlled conditions and an operational stage in a real-world environment, limited only by UAV flight restrictions. Thermal measurements are recorded in radiometric formats and analyzed using polygon- and profile-based tools to identify temperature anomalies (hot spots) and support maintenance escalation decisions. This manuscript presents standardized sample templates for mission logs, QA/QC activities, and anomaly lists, intended to support reproducible data collection in future studies. The proposed process supports predictive maintenance by enabling repeatable inspections, archive-based trend analysis, and integration with asset management processes, while minimizing operational risk and avoiding power outages when technically feasible.