SubscribeIR (Infrared) Camera Technology or thermal imaging has an abundance of applications in the modern world. Some of the most notable include building inspection, electrical/mechanical inspection, surveillance and searching for buried objects.
When applied to a surveillance system, thermal technology allows the user to see in the absence of light. In an application where there is a fixed perimeter to maintain, the IR cameras are typically employed to supplement or replace the need for high mast lighting that is required for most CCD cameras to be effective in darkness. These lights are expensive to install and maintain and are still ineffective in rain or fog. However, the IR cameras give the user a complete solution for night time surveillance even in adverse weather conditions. Additionally, IR technology gives the freedom of seeing at night without being detected. Since thermal cameras are a passive technology, they do not emit a beam of energy that can be traced back to the user.
Thermal Imaging IR Technology
Building infrastructure assessment is another function of IR technology. The use of thermal imaging allows an inspector to see support structures of a wall that are otherwise hidden behind the visible exterior because the surface directly attached to the brace becomes a different temperature. The inspector can determine if the building infrastructure has been compromised and/or meets code regulations.
The images below illustrate both internal and external walls as seen through an IR camera where the support braces are clearly visible.
Similarly, inspectors use IR cameras to check for water damage, termite damage and HVAC inspection,
insulation and water infiltration quality Thermal imaging is also commonly used to locate objects buried under the ground such as land mines, pipelines, storage tanks, etc. Additionally, thermal cameras are used to locate leaks in buried pipes.
If an underground pipe containing chemicals, fluids, gas, oil, etc. leaks it changes the temperature of the soil in vicinity of the leak. Therefore, an overhead thermal image of the area allows the user to accurately determine the location of a leak.
