Kestrix drone privacy FAQ
At Kestrix, we capture imagery of homes using drones. We take your data and privacy seriously.
What is Kestrix?
Kestrix is helping asset owners improve energy efficiency of their buildings. We do this by providing owners with surveys of properties in their portfolio. These help them make better decisions about how to improve those buildings to make them more energy efficient, reduce their carbon emissions and reduce their impact on climate change.
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.
We fly 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 by the building owner. The purpose of these models is to help building owners identify thermal anomalies.
The models and analysis are made available only to the building owner and are not made available publicly.
Example 3D visible and thermal models are below.
What about properties that are photographed but owned by other people?
The images that Kestrix captures may include images of neighbouring properties. Kestrix only analyses the properties for which it has a request from the owner or resident of that property.
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, we will only use anonymised address information. We do 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.