18.16: Quality Control (QC) Checklists for Aerial Thermography
- Page ID
- 58047
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)QC-1: Pre-Flight Aerial Thermography QC Checklist
(Completed before takeoff)
Payload & Camera Configuration
☐ Correct thermal payload installed
☐ Sensor resolution verified
☐ Spectral band confirmed (LWIR / MWIR)
☐ Radiometric capture enabled
☐ Lens FOV verified
☐ Gimbal stabilization operational
FoRD Verification
☐ Focus verified at planned altitude
☐ Temperature range appropriate for expected targets
☐ Planned altitude supports required GSD
☐ Target expected to fill sufficient pixels
QC Hold Point:
❌ Do not fly if focus or altitude/GSD is not confirmed.
Mission Parameters
☐ Mission objective reviewed
☐ Planned flight altitude confirmed
☐ Planned flight speed confirmed
☐ Planned overlap confirmed
☐ Viewing angle defined (nadir / oblique)
Environmental Conditions
☐ Wind within acceptable limits
☐ Solar loading appropriate for inspection type
☐ Cloud cover acceptable
☐ No precipitation present
Documentation
☐ Mission planning worksheet completed
☐ Roles defined (RPIC, VO, Sensor Operator)
☐ Emergency procedures reviewed
QC-2: Test Image Verification Checklist
(Completed after test capture, before full mission)
☐ Image in focus
☐ Adequate thermal contrast visible
☐ No motion blur present
☐ Correct temperature range confirmed
☐ Radiometric data present
☐ Metadata recording correctly
Test Image Accepted? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If no, corrective action taken: ______________________
QC-3: In-Flight Image Acquisition QC Checklist
(Monitored during flight)
Flight Stability
☐ Altitude maintained within plan
☐ Speed consistent
☐ Minimal yaw during capture
☐ Gimbal maintaining orientation
Coverage & Overlap
☐ Forward overlap maintained
☐ Side overlap maintained
☐ No visible coverage gaps
FoRD Monitoring
☐ Focus appears consistent
☐ Targets remain adequately resolved
☐ No altitude creep reducing resolution
Environmental Monitoring
☐ Wind conditions stable
☐ Solar loading stable
☐ No sudden cloud changes
QC Trigger:
⛔ Pause or abort mission if FoRD or environmental limits are exceeded.
QC-4: Immediate Post-Flight Image Quality Check
(Completed immediately after landing)
☐ Sample images reviewed
☐ Focus acceptable across dataset
☐ No significant motion blur
☐ Thermal contrast adequate
☐ Radiometric data intact
☐ Metadata present
Re-flight Required? ☐ Yes ☐ No
If yes, reason: ____________________________________
QC-5: Aerial Data Completeness Checklist
(Before leaving site)
☐ All planned areas covered
☐ No missing flight lines
☐ All targets captured
☐ Thermal + visual images paired
☐ Flight logs saved
QC-6: FoRD-Specific QC Audit
(Critical Level I QC step)
|
FoRD Element |
Acceptable? |
Notes |
|
Focus |
☐ Yes ☐ No |
|
|
Range |
☐ Yes ☐ No |
|
|
Distance / Altitude |
☐ Yes ☐ No |
FoRD Rule:
❌ If any FoRD element is unacceptable, the data is not valid and must be flagged.
QC-7: Data Integrity & Handling Checklist
☐ Original radiometric files preserved
☐ No files overwritten
☐ File naming correct
☐ Folder structure followed
☐ Backup created
☐ Data ready for Level II/III handoff
QC-8: Limitations & Exceptions Documentation
☐ Environmental limitations noted
☐ Access or altitude constraints noted
☐ FoRD limitations documented
☐ Deviations from plan recorded
QC-9: Level II / III Handoff Readiness Checklist
☐ Radiometric thermal images included
☐ Visual images included
☐ Metadata intact
☐ Mission planning worksheet included
☐ Environmental conditions documented
☐ QC checklists completed