Kestrix drone privacy FAQ
Kestrix captures imagery of homes using drones. Kestrix takes data and privacy seriously.
What is Kestrix?
Kestrix is a technology company that analyses thermal images of buildings to assess heat loss and generate energy efficiency retrofit plans. This data helps stakeholders working on decarbonising in the built environment – such as housing providers, cities and local authorities, energy utilities, mortgage providers and others – make better decisions about how to improve buildings to make them more energy efficient, reducing carbon emissions and addressing other systemic issues like fuel poverty and damp and mould.
How does Kestrix collect data?
Kestrix collects visual images and thermal images of neighbourhoods using drones. Drones are flown by drone operations companies contracted by Kestrix.
Each operator is licensed to fly commercial drone missions by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and always gains the necessary authorisation for each flight.
Kestrix commissions flights both during the day and at night to gather images.
What can you see with a thermal image?
Thermal images show the surface temperature of objects in view of the camera. Despite what’s portrayed in the movies, thermal cameras cannot see through walls or roofs. Even windows are entirely opaque to a thermal camera.
Below is an example thermal image shot at 30m above ground level, Kestrix’s lowest flight altitude.
What does Kestrix do with the images?
Once the images are captured, the drone operator securely transfers the images to Kestrix’s secure data platform. Kestrix analyses the images to generate 3D thermal models of the properties which it’s been asked to analyse. The purpose of these models is to help Kestrix stakeholders identify thermal anomalies and areas for improvement.
The models and analysis are made available only to stakeholders involved in planning or verifying energy efficiency, and are not made available publicly.
Example 3D visible and thermal models are below.
What about properties that are captured in the edges of photographs?
The images that Kestrix captures may include images of neighbouring properties to those targeted. Analysis is only conducted on properties that have been requested by a relevant retrofit stakeholder.
How does Kestrix protect the images?
Kestrix stores all images on its secure cloud platform. Only authorised users within Kestrix and its customers can access images through Kestrix’s secure web portal protected by username and password.
Kestrix associates images and models with their geographic locations, but not with the names or other personal details of any residents unless those individuals have explicitly consented.
What if people are captured in the images?
The drones fly at 30-50 m altitude, from which height it is not possible to recognise individuals within the images.
Is any personal data collected or used?
For the purpose of collecting visual and thermal data and producing the building 3D models, Kestrix will only use anonymised address information. Kestrix does not collect or store any data relating to the residents’ personal data.
If you have concerns about a drone flight
You can report a potential breach of aviation law to the CAA here.