Optional Sensor placement

I have 8 thermocouples on a rectangular object (battery) heat is being produced within the battery and at the tabs where the current is flowing out. I’m planning on using a voronoi diagram to estimate the surface temperature from these sensors. I have access to an Ir camera and can get the shape of the thermal contours throughout the time interval.

I am unfamiliar with the theory as to how to optimize the placement of these sensors? What areas should I look into? I cannot even begin to research this topic.