Presentation on Thermal Imaging and recent developments and applications of the technology.

1. THERMAL IMAGING
AND ITS
APPLICATIONS

2. THERMAL IMAGING
Thermal image of steam locomotive

3. INTRODUCTION
• Thermal imaging is the technique of using the
heat given off by an object to produce an image of
it or to locate it
• First developed for military purposes in the late
1950s and 1960s by Texas Instruments, Hughes
Aircraft and Honeywell
• In recent times it is being used in firefighting, law
enforcement, industrial applications, security,
transportation, medical and many other industries

4. IMAGE PROCESSING
• Image processing is any form of signal processing for
which the input is an image, such as a photograph or
video frame and the output may be either an image or a
set of characteristics or parameters related to the image

5. COLORS
For science communication, the two main color spaces
are RGB and CMYK.
RGB
• An additive color model in
which red, green, and blue
are added together in various
ways to reproduce array of
colors
• White is the "additive"
combination of all primary
colored lights
CMYK
• Subtractive color model CMYK
refers to the four inks used in
color printing: cyan, magenta,
yellow, and key (black)
• CMYK model is called
subtractive because inks
"subtract" brightness from
white

6. COLORS

7. THERMAL IMAGING
• It is the technique of using the heat given off by an
object to produce an image of it .
• Works in environments without any ambient light and
can penetrate obscurants such as smoke, fog and
haze.
• Normally grey scale in nature: black objects are cold,
white objects are hot and the depth of grey indicates
variations between the two.
• Some thermal cameras, however, add color to images
to help users identify objects at different
temperatures.

8. THERMAL IMAGING
Cup filled with hot liquid

9. WORKING OF
THERMOGRAPHIC CAMERA

10. INFRARED IMAGE
• Infrared imaging is a type of
imaging that utilizes light
above the wavelength of the
visual spectrum
• Active infrared sends out a
beam of infrared light and
gathers the reflected waves to
form a picture on a screen or
pair of glasses.
• IR film is sensitive to infrared
(IR) radiation in the 250°C to
500°C range
THERMAL IMAGE
• Thermal Imaging is a type
of imaging that determines
an image based on the
absolute temperature of the
subject. The image is
formed based on the heat
signature of object
• Thermal devices record the
current signatures of the
devices based on their heat
pattern and do not need a
beam like active IR devices
• Range of thermal imager is
approximately −50°C to
over 2,000°C

11. TYPES OF THERMAL IMAGING
CAMERAS
COOLED THERMAL IMAGER
• Cooled detectors are typically
contained in a vacuum-sealed
case and cryogenically cooled
• Cooling is necessary for the
operation of the semiconductor
materials used else they would be
blinded by their own radiation
• Cooled infrared cameras provide
superior image quality
• Bulky and expensive to produce
and run
• Cooling is power-hungry and
time-consuming hence the
camera needs time to cool down
before it can begin working again
UN-COOLED THERMAL IMAGER
• Un-cooled detectors use a sensor
operating at ambient
temperature, or a sensor
stabilized at room temperature
using control elements
• Resolution and image quality
tend to be lower than cooled
detectors
• Smaller and less costly to
produce and run
• Fast operation and consumes less
power

12. ADVANTAGES OF THERMAL
IMAGING
• Non-invasive and non-destructive hence can be used to survey whilst
the plant and equipment is running, in production and on load
• Produces fast, accurate and immediate temperature measurement and
helps in fault detection
• Cameras are easy to install and surveys can be performed at a
convenient time
• Is capable of catching moving targets in real time and in low light
conditions
• Can be used to measure or observe subjects in areas inaccessible or
hazardous for other methods
• Can help in identifying air leakages, documenting irregular heat
dispersion and identifying possible irregularities in insulation
• Cameras can passively see all objects, regardless of ambient
light

13. APPLICATIONS
• Condition monitoring
• Building envelope inspections and energy losses in buildings
• Thermal mapping
• Digital infrared thermal imaging in health care
• Archaeological kite aerial thermography
• Veterinary Thermal Imaging
• Night vision
• UAV Surveillance
• Research
• Process control
• Nondestructive testing
• Surveillance in security, law enforcement and defense
• Chemical imaging
• Volcanology

14. THERMAL IMAGING IN BORDER
SECURITY
• Due to their ability to detect man sized targets at extremely
long distances ,in total darkness and in extreme weather
conditions thermal imaging cameras are extremely suited
for border surveillance.
• Generally, cooled cameras are used in border security
applications as they provide a longer range performance
than un-cooled detector
• If the terrain is e.g. mountainous and does not permit seeing
over a distance of 20 kilometers, un-cooled thermal imaging
cameras can be used for border security as well
• Thermal imaging cameras can be integrated with radar
systems

15. THERMAL IMAGING IN BORDER
SECURITY

16. SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT
APPLICATIONS
• With a thermal imager, an officer can stop and scan
the property at a distance, identifying any person
present there.
• Perimeter surveillance is another application in which
thermal imaging can be used to dramatically improve
results and reduce the time committed to a particular
operation.
• Thermal imaging cameras are also used in search and
rescue operations as officers may be able to search up
to 1,500 feet in any direction.

17. SECURITY AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS
Thermal image of a parking area in which a
person is trying to hide behind a car
Thermal image taken during a search and
rescue operation

18. NIGHT VISION
• Thermal imaging cameras are excellent tools for night
vision.
• They detect thermal radiation and do not need a
source of illumination.
• They produce an image in the darkest of nights and
can see through light fog, rain and smoke.
• Thermal imaging cameras are widely used to
complement new or existing security networks, and
for night vision on aircraft, where they are commonly
referred to as "FLIR" (for "forward-looking
infrared".)

19. APPLICATION IN MEDICINE
• Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a diagnostic
technique that is non-invasive and involves no exposure
to radiation
• The main areas in which this technique is used are:
o Early detection of breast cancer
o Monitoring changes in overall health
o Monitoring healing processes
o Disease and Virus Monitoring
o Fever Screening (i.e. H1N1, SARS)
• The different types of screening procedures used are:
o Full Body Screening
o Screening a particular region to identify and monitor
localized conditions such as thyroid
o Mass Screening, in areas such as airports, to monitor the
potential spread of viruses such as H1N1 (Swine Flu) by
identifying fever symptoms in specific individuals

20. APPLICATION IN MEDICINE
Thermal image of inflammation in legs caused due to injury

21. APPLICATION IN MEDICINE
An officer monitoring a thermal scanner as passengers arrive
at the airport to detect fever during the swine flu outbreak

22. APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE AND
FOOD INDUSTRY
Potential use of thermal imaging in agriculture and food
industry includes:
• Predicting water stress in crops
• Planning irrigation scheduling
• Disease and pathogen detection in plants
• Predicting fruit yield
• Evaluating the maturing of fruits
• Bruise detection in fruits and vegetables
• Detection of foreign bodies in food material
• Temperature distribution during cooking

23. APPLICATION IN AGRICULTURE
AND FOOD INDUSTRY
A thermal image used to locate under-cooked
chicken tender so that they can be removed
Thermal image showing milk
bottles that may be over filled
or under filled

24. APPLICATIONS IN BUILDINGS
DIAGONISTICS
• Thermal cameras show exactly where the problems are
quickly and help detecting energy waste, moisture and
electrical issues in buildings
• Thermal imaging is used for maintenance of electrical,
mechanical, and structural systems, to detect problems,
prevent downtime, guide corrective action, and increase
work safety
• Using thermal imagers it's easy to scan an entire
building to detect building envelope, and plumbing
issues, presence of moisture in building envelopes,
either from leakage or condensation and water damage

25. APPLICATIONS IN BUILDINGS
DIAGONISTICS
Thermal scan of a house showing water
leak in the ceiling.
Thermal image of a house

26. APPLICATION IN CONDITION
MONITORING
• A simple portable infrared thermal camera is used by the consultant
to scan the surface conditions and obtain a picture on the LCD
screen.
• Using simple navigation features built into the camera, it is then
possible to identify the thermal profile and abnormal hot or cold
spots.
• Based on the information about average temperatures, design
parameters, visual observations, etc the present condition of those
machineries can be determined and corrective actions can be taken.

27. EVALUATION OF SOLAR PANELS
• With a thermal imaging camera, potential problem areas of solar
panels can be detected and repaired before actual problems or failures
occur
• Anomalies on panels can clearly be seen on thermal image and
thermal cameras can be used to scan installed solar panels during
normal operation.
• Un-cooled thermal imaging cameras used for solar panel quality
controls before installation and for maintenance after the panel has
been installed.
Red spots indicate
modules that are hotter
indicating faulty circuit

28. APPLICATION IN VOLCANOLOGY
• Thermal imaging cameras are the ideal tool for the detection
and analysis of volcanic heat patterns
• Thermal imaging cameras are used to measure and map active
lava flows and to detect new cracks where hot gases escape
• Understanding the mechanics behind volcanic incidents will
help to improve volcanic warning systems which will in turn
help to save lives

29. APPLICATION IN WEATHER
FORECASTING
• Satellites mounted with thermal imaging cameras are being used to
determine weather patterns on earth.
• They are used to track dangerous weather conditions, raining
patterns, heat waves and solar activity.
• Thermal imaging helps in making accurate weather forecasts
revealing a range of information like the formation and swirling
motion of clouds, sea surface temperature, moisture profile of the
atmosphere and the movement of smoke plumes from wildfires.
Thermal image of the
Sahara desert

30. LIMITATIONS OF THERMAL IMAGING
• Quality cameras are expensive (often US$ 3,000 or more),
cheaper are only 40x40 up to 120x120 pixels
• Images can be difficult to interpret accurately when based upon
certain objects, specifically objects with erratic temperatures
• Accurate temperature measurements are hindered by differing
emissivities and reflections from other surfaces
• Most cameras have ±2% accuracy or worse in measurement of
temperature and are not as accurate as contact methods
• Only able to directly detect surface temperatures
• Thermal imaging cameras cannot be used to see objects under
water
• Because thermal energy can be reflected off shiny surfaces,
thermal imaging cameras cannot see through glass
• Also thermal imaging cameras cannot see through walls

31. REFRENCES
• www.flir.com
• www.google.com
• www.ndt.net
• www.thermology.com
• www.noaanews.noaa.gov
• www.coxcamera.com
• www.nbcnews.com
• www.bullard.com
• environment.nationalgeographic.com
• www.ttsa.com
• www.decentenergy.com
• En.wikipaedia.org
• www.physicsforum.com
• Ieeexplorer.ieee.org
• www.pr-infrared.com