Detroit uses drones to advance energy-efficient public buildings

Lamarr.AI, in partnership with Michigan Central and Newlab, has launched a drone inspection pilot to identify opportunities for improved municipal building operations and energy efficiency in City of Detroit buildings.

Supported by the State of Michigan’s Advanced Aerial Mobility Action Fund, this initiative utilises Advanced Aerial Innovation Region (AAIR), a real-world testing ground created for next-generation drone operations at Michigan Central.

Energy-saving improvements

The data, including thermal imaging and building analytics for selected City-owned facilities, will be provided to the City of Detroit to support efforts in identifying energy-saving improvements and optimising building performance.

The City partnered on deploying the technology in three municipal buildings and will be provided building reports as part of a permitted project through the Office of Mobility Innovation’s Transportation Innovation Zone (Tiz).

Lamarr.AI, a Newlab member company, has created a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) platform that it claims autonomously and rapidly processes data captured by drones to create detailed thermal 3D models and energy simulations. These models will help the City identify thermal inefficiencies, assess structural conditions, and optimise potential upgrades.

“We’re not only exploring the future of aerial mobility – we’re actively applying it to make Detroit’s buildings smarter, more energy efficient, and better equipped for the future”

“This pilot is a prime example of how public-private collaboration can unlock innovative solutions for cities,” said Tim Slusser, chief mobility officer for the City of Detroit.

“By partnering with Lamarr.AI, Michigan Central, and Newlab, we’re not only exploring the future of aerial mobility – we’re actively applying it to make Detroit’s buildings smarter, more energy efficient, and better equipped for the future. It’s exciting to see Detroit continue to lead as a real-world testbed for technology that creates real impact for our residents.”

Lamarr.AI, supported by FlyGuys and Airspace Link, reports that it evaluated multiple city-owned buildings using its AI-powered drone inspection technology. In Southwest Detroit, at the Fourth Precinct and Engine 27, the system identified more than 460 thermal deficiencies – including insulation gaps and potential water infiltration – within days, a process that it reckons would traditionally take weeks.

These insights were mapped to 3D models and paired with energy simulations, showing that targeted upgrades could reduce HVAC energy use by up to 22 per cent at all tested buildings.