Geometric and Thermographic Visual Analysis and Score Ranking of Public Buildings' Comparative Energy Performance

This paper builds on previous research [1], which is a pilot study using exterior digital photography, photogrammetry, and digital modelling to retrieve an energy performance ranking of buildings in a city, when energy use data or the buildings' drawings are not accessible. In the pilot study, we geometrically analyzed the envelope, plan, and form complexity of three public school buildings to create a ranking protocol. In this sequent paper, we propose to develop a thermographic and geometric data-driven documentation process of the exterior surfaces of a building envelope solely through exterior access. Our methodology assigns quantitative values to the infrared (IR) images by retrieving pixel values of RGB color and temperature, to create a ranking system that is then validated against previously collected energy use data through utility bills. In comparison to this baseline energy use data, our methodology proposes a time-efficient and external process to retrieve relative energy performance measures of multiple buildings. The purpose of this study is to create a ranking of municipal buildings in the City of Fargo that would benefit from energy conservation efforts, without needing to access energy use data or as-built-drawings.