Urban thermal environments are closely linked to the health and well-being of residents, particularly in rapidly growing cities such as Freetown, where informal settlements and heat-absorbing materials intensify the urban heat island effect. Rising temperatures and prolonged heat exposure pose significant risks, especially for vulnerable communities, making it essential to better understand and map heat distribution across the city . Drone-based thermal infrared imagery provides an efficient, flexible, and community-driven approach to capturing high-resolution data on urban heat patterns. Within the context of Freetown’s ongoing efforts to build climate resilience, locally collected drone imagery plays a key role in identifying heat hotspots, supporting evidence-based decision-making, and enabling targeted interventions such as urban greening, infrastructure adaptation, and improved housing conditions . To support these efforts, we aim to identify built-up areas across Freetown—particularly in dense and underserved neighborhoods—to optimize drone flight planning and data collection. This will ensure efficient coverage, enhance the quality of thermal mapping outputs, and contribute to community-led strategies for mitigating heat risks and strengthening urban resilience. If you want to learn more you can check this [blog post](https://www.hotosm.org/en/projects/catalyzing-data-driven-community-heat-resilience-in-freetown/)