Thanks to films and popular television programmes, we tend to most commonly associate thermal or infrared cameras with covert military operations and SWAT raids. The reality is that thermal imaging technology has a multitude of applications across a wide variety of industries all of which Vision Catcher can advise you upon.

It has come a long way since Sir William Herschel first discovered the technology back in 1800.

As a keen astronomer, Herschel wanted to know how much heat passed through the different coloured filters that he used to observe sunlight. What he ultimately discovered was a form of light beyond red light, which we now call infrared radiation. This was an incredibly important discovery as it marked the first time that someone had proven that there were certain types of light that we cannot see with the naked eye.

Popular Applications of Thermal Camera Technology

Originally developed for military use during the Korean War, thermal cameras are still used extensively in the military and law enforcement arenas, but the technology has a host of other applications as well.

Medical

In medicine, thermal imaging is used to analyse body fluids and tissue without the need for invasive surgical procedures. It can also be used to diagnose musculoskeletal problems of the neck, back or limbs. Deep vein thromboses and other circulatory disorders have also accurately been detected using thermal imaging. Changes in physiology, such as fevers, can easily be identified, and many airports and other ports of entry into countries made use of a thermal camera to scan incoming passengers for raised temperatures during recent outbreaks of Ebola and SARS.

Construction

Building construction technicians and home inspectors use thermal imaging to detect heat leaks and find faults with thermal insulation, while unwanted pests, such as rats and termites, can be located without having to crawl through roof spaces or dig up floors.

Environmental

Early warning climate systems rely on infrared satellites, which measure ocean temperatures and convection within clouds. This helps predict and identify potentially destructive storms and other weather patterns.

How Does A Thermal Camera Work?

Thermal imaging technology doesn’t quite give you x-ray vision, but it’s probably as close as you’re going to get!

Thermal imaging cameras, which are also sometimes called infrared cameras, detect the thermal energy, or heat, given off by an object or person, and turn it into visible light. As with regular cameras, thermal cameras have lenses, but they focus waves from the energy and convert it into electrical signals, which in turn creates a video image.

With an infrared camera, the “thermal profile” of an object is displayed in relation to the temperatures of surrounding objects. So a person, who is warmer than the air surrounding them, will show up “white,” while buildings, which are cooler than the surrounding air, will appear in various shades of grey.

Thermal cameras can be monochromatic or in colour, coming in all shapes and sizes depending upon their particular abilities. Vision Catcher can help with product selection according to your requirements from mobile phone attachable and handheld security units, to medium and long range cameras using cooled technologies for ranges out to more than 25km.

At Vision Catcher, we have the right video solution for your needs. From thermal cameras to CCTV, and pretty much everything in between, we know we can help you find the perfect solution. Chat to us today.

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