~ Summary ~

Thermography Services (UK) Ltd, in collaboration with Drone Media Imaging, conducted a thermal imaging study to investigate underground fire risks at an old council landfill site. Using drone-mounted thermal cameras, we identified heat anomalies, monitored temperature trends, and provided detailed risk assessments for local authorities. Our work enabled environmental teams to implement preventative fire measures and ensure compliance with safety regulations. The study demonstrated the power of drone thermography in assessing landfill conditions and supporting fire prevention strategies.

Thermography UK-Investigating Underground Fire Risks at a Former Council Landfill Site

Introduction

A council landfill site posed potential environmental and safety risks due to suspected underground fires and gas buildup. Landfill sites, particularly older ones, can develop hotspots due to the decomposition of waste, which generates heat and methane gas. If left unchecked, these thermal anomalies can escalate into underground combustion, presenting fire hazards, gas leaks, and potential explosions.

Traditional ground-based thermal surveys would have been time-consuming, expensive, and logistically challenging, requiring multiple surveyors to traverse difficult terrain while using handheld thermal imaging devices. Drone-based thermal imaging offered a more efficient, non-invasive, and cost-effective alternative, providing high-resolution thermal data across large areas in a fraction of the time.

By using state-of-the-art drone technology, we conducted a comprehensive aerial thermal inspection, capturing detailed temperature variations across the site. The collected data provided a heat distribution map, helping environmental specialists identify areas of concern and guiding further on-ground validation. The findings were instrumental in assessing potential underground fires, methane leaks, and environmental hazards.

Project Subjects

"landfill thermal inspection, drone-based thermal imaging, underground fire detection, thermal imaging for landfill monitoring, drone survey for underground heat detection, environmental risk assessment with drones,"

Project Skills

Radiometric Thermal Analysis, Georeferenced Thermal Mapping, Heat Anomaly Identification

Report Writing Service

Drone Thermal Inspection, Landfill Fire Detection, Environmental Thermography, Aerial Thermal Imaging, Underground Heat Monitoring, Methane Gas Leak Detection, Landfill Risk Assessment, Thermal Mapping Services, Industrial Drone Surveys, Drone Inspection UK

Fire Thermal Imaging Monitoring
Grain Store Explosion and Fire Thermal Monitoring

Task & Objective

Aerial drone surveys were conducted using advanced thermal imaging cameras, allowing for accurate detection of heat anomalies. The flights were carefully planned to maximize data accuracy while covering the entire site efficiently. These flights allowed us to collect precise thermal data over known landfill gas extraction points, waste-filled zones, and suspected underground fire locations.

Traditional methods of assessing landfill fires, such as surface temperature measurements and gas monitoring, have limitations. Thermal drone inspections offer a far more effective solution, delivering precise heat mapping across large areas with real-time aerial perspectives.

The primary objective of this project was to use advanced thermal imaging to:

  • Detect unusual heat signatures indicative of underground fires.

  • Map temperature fluctuations over time to assess risk levels.

  • Provide evidence-based reports for environmental and safety compliance.

Data Analysis & Mapping

After collecting the thermal imagery, the next step was data processing and geospatial analysis. Accurate mapping and interpretation of thermal patterns were essential to distinguish natural temperature variations from potentially hazardous underground activity.

  • Google Earth integration was used to align thermal data with the most up-to-date site maps.

  • Comparison with historic landfill maps helped verify thermal anomalies and pipeline alignment.

  • Pipeline zones and wellheads were specifically analyzed to detect possible gas leaks or underground fires.

Our goals were structured to provide a comprehensive risk assessment while minimising environmental disruption:

  • Non-Invasive Investigation: Deploy drone thermal imaging to conduct aerial surveys without disturbing the landfill surface.

  • Early Detection of Subsurface Heat Anomalies: Identify potential underground combustion before it escalates into a full-scale fire.

  • Long-Term Temperature Trend Analysis: Conduct repeat inspections over a year to track heat activity and determine if temperature levels were rising or stabilising.

  • Environmental & Regulatory Compliance: Support local authorities and waste management agencies in meeting safety and environmental regulations.

  • Risk Mitigation & Fire Prevention Planning: Provide actionable insights to help prevent dangerous underground fires and improve landfill site management strategies.

Approach & Procedure

1. Initial Thermal Survey & Baseline Analysis

  • The first drone thermal inspection mapped surface temperatures across the landfill site, identifying several heat anomalies that required further investigation.
  • Thermal imaging detected localised hotspots in specific areas, though their causes were initially unclear.

2. Repeat Inspections & Temperature Tracking

  • Over a conducted a numbe thermal surveys, comparing temperature changes to ambient.
  • Some anomalies remained stable, suggesting natural heat from decomposing waste, while others fluctuated, requiring closer scrutiny.
  • Other thirdparty Gas monitoring was conducted in collaboration with environmental teams to cross-check findings with methane emissions and subsurface conditions.

3. Identifying Underground Fire Risks

  • Several persistent heat anomalies were flagged as potential underground combustion zones due to sustained elevated temperatures despite external cooling factors.
  • Our thermal analysis helped confirm areas of concern for fire risk, leading to further ground investigations by environmental teams.

4. Supporting Long-Term Risk Mitigation

  • By providing high-accuracy thermal reports, we enabled local councils to:
    • Implement preventative landfill fire measures.
    • Adjust methane gas extraction systems to reduce potential ignition risks.
    • Improve landfill capping and surface management techniques.
  • The final reports and temperature trend analysis confirmed that no large-scale underground fire was present, but preventative actions were advised in key areas showing thermal anomalies.

This thermal imaging investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of drone-based environmental thermography in assessing potential underground fires at landfill sites. By conducting the thermal survey, we helped local authorities make informed, data-driven decisions, ensuring that fire prevention strategies were proactively implemented. By integrating thermal drone technology with environmental monitoring, we provided critical insights into landfill site conditions, ensuring both safety and regulatory compliance.

Key Findings & Conclusions

The analysis of the thermal data revealed several critical insights regarding the landfill’s subsurface conditions.

Hotspot Detection & Underground Combustion Risks

The thermal survey identified multiple high-temperature zones, particularly in areas associated with gas extraction infrastructure. These hotspots varied in intensity, with some areas exhibiting significant thermal anomalies that warranted further investigation.

  • Elevated temperatures in certain regions suggested possible underground combustion activity, where decomposing organic material could be generating excess heat.
  • Some hotspots coincided with landfill gas extraction wells, indicating higher-than-expected methane activity.
  • The presence of consistent heat signatures over time suggested that underground heating was ongoing rather than a temporary effect.

These findings allowed site engineers and environmental specialists to focus their attention on potential problem areas, ensuring that preventative measures could be implemented before a fire outbreak.

Pipeline & Gas Wellhead Analysis

One of the main objectives of the survey was to assess pipeline integrity and monitor gas wellheads for any signs of leakage or abnormal temperature fluctuations.

  • The temperature profile along pipeline routes varied significantly, with certain sections displaying higher-than-expected heat levels.
  • Some thermal anomalies aligned with gas wellheads, suggesting potential methane buildup.
  • The lack of significant heat buildup in some pipeline sections helped rule out leaks in those areas, reinforcing the accuracy of the thermal survey.

This level of thermal differentiation enabled more targeted inspections, reducing the need for unnecessary ground excavations or costly gas monitoring.

Influence of Ground Conditions on Heat Signatures

An interesting discovery was the impact of ground conditions on thermal readings. Areas with vegetation cover, open ground, and vehicle tracks exhibited different thermal signatures, influencing how the data was interpreted.

  • Vegetation-covered areas reflected solar heat, causing elevated temperature readings unrelated to landfill activity.
  • Vehicle tracks and compacted soil appeared warmer than surrounding areas, likely due to reduced insulation from looser ground cover.
  • Cleared and evenly covered ground provided the most reliable thermal data, reinforcing the need for calibrated image correction.

By accounting for these environmental variables, we ensured that only genuine heat anomalies were flagged for further investigation.

This drone-based thermal inspection provided a fast, cost-effective, and highly detailed method for identifying underground heat activity at the landfill site. The survey’s key benefits included:

  • Faster coverage than traditional ground-based thermography.
  • More precise heat anomaly detection, guiding focused ground inspections.
  • Reduced environmental and fire risks, enabling early intervention before hazards escalate.

The findings allowed site managers and environmental consultants to develop targeted mitigation strategies, ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. By leveraging drone thermal imaging, this project demonstrated how aerial thermography is transforming landfill monitoring for better risk management and environmental protection.