Lightweight　and　flexible　membranes　offer　different　facades　for　buildings　(suitability,　competitive　costs,　durability,　and　other　benefits)　compared　to　traditional　building　materials.　Increasing　attention　is　being　paid　to　membrane　structures　in　the　civil　and　industrial　sectors.　Acquiring　response　data　or　environmental　characteristics　directly　from　a　model　or　building　is　the　most　straightforward　approach　to　analyzing　the　properties　of　membrane　structures,　which　also　contributes　to　the　development　of　theoretical　studies　and　simulation　methods　along　with　the　enactment　of　specifications.　This　paper　provides　a　comprehensive　overview　of　membrane　structure　performance,　including　mechanical,　thermal,　and　energetic　aspects,　alongside　the　deployment　and　deflation　of　inflatable　types.　Furthermore,　the　devices　used　to　monitor　the　structural　response　are　summarized.　The　constitution　of　the　structure　is　the　most　critical　factor　affecting　its　performance.　A　proper　design　would　offer　enhanced　mechanical　properties　and　thermal　environments　with　a　reduction　in　energy　consumption.　Non-contact　measurement　technology　has　the　advantage　of　causing　no　structural　disturbance　and　is　low　cost,　but　it　lacks　practical　application　in　membrane　buildings.　The　achievements　and　limitations　of　previous　studies　are　also　discussed.　Finally,　some　potential　directions　for　future　work　are　suggested.