Droning sustainability: advancing thermal analysis of GBI-certified buildings in Putrajaya, Malaysia, through drone technology

Buildings have played a crucial role in shaping the environmental space of sustainability. In Malaysia, the introduction of the Green Building Index (GBI) represents a significant effort to advocate for sustainable building designs, with a focus on energy efficiency and technological advancement. Against this backdrop, this paper explores the potential of emerging drone technology in assessing and enhancing the environmental sustainability of building designs. It utilizes drone-assisted imagery modelling to analyse thermal performance in two GBI-certified buildings in Putrajaya: the Z10 Tower and the Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (MOSTI) building. The study is conducted with the objective of utilizing drone technology for thermal pattern inspections. In response to this objective, four methodological procedures are employed: site selection, drone equipment identification, mapping technique planning, and aerial imaging documentation. The findings reveal varied responses in terms of the buildings’ compositions and materiality to sun heat exposure, illustrating the intricate interplay between architectural design and environmental spaces. For instance, the Z10 Tower’s metal roof reaches 53°C by noon, whereas its concrete roof attains 45°C, and its north-facing glass window cools significantly by 4 p.m. Similarly, the MOSTI building exhibits temperature variations based on orientation, with the roof peaking at 51°C and the solar panel at 49°C. These temperature variations inform the targeted design interventions proposed in this study, specifically the installation of louvres to enhance the building’s sustainable design. As an exploratory investigation, this study calls for more interdisciplinary collaboration between design thinking, architecture, and engineering studies.

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