Evaluating the Operational Potential of LRV Signatures Derived from UAV Imagery in Performance Evaluation of Cool Roofs

It is quite difficult to find studies regarding area-wide data from UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) remote sensing in evaluating the energy saving performance of a cool roof. Acknowledging these constraints, we investigated whether LRV (Light Reflectance Value) signatures derived from UAV imagery could be used effectively as an indicator of area-wide heating and cooling load that distinctively appears according to rooftop color. The case study provides some quantitative tangible evidence for two distinct colors: A whitish color roof appears near the edge of the highest LRV (91.36) and with a low temperature (rooftop surface temperature: (38.03 °C), while a blackish color roof shows the lowest LRV (18.14) with a very high temperature (65.03 °C) where solar radiation is extensively absorbed. A strong negative association (Pearson correlation coefficient, r = −0.76) was observed between the LRV and surface temperature, implying that a higher LRV (e.g., a white color) plays a decisive role in lowering the surface temperature. This research can be used as a valuable reference introducing LRV in evaluating the thermal performance of rooftop color as rooftops satisfying the requirement of a cool roof (reflecting 75% or more of incoming solar energy) are identified based on area-wide objective evidence from UAV imagery.