Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera
to "see" and "measure" thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal, or
infrared energy, is light that is not visible because its wavelength is too long
to be detected by the human eye; it's the part of the electromagnetic
spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared world,
everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat. Even very
cold objects, like ice cubes, emit infrared. The higher the object's
temperature, the greater the IR radiation emitted. Infrared allows us to see
what our eyes cannot. Infrared thermography cameras produce images of
invisible infrared or "heat" radiation and provide precise non-contact
temperature measurement capabilities. Infrared imaging is an extremely
cost-effective, valuable diagnostic tool in many diverse applications such as:
  • Building envelopes: locate energy losses caused by missing, improperly
    installed or damaged insulation.
  • Flat roofs: locate water damage and leaks.
  • Electrical systems: detect poor connections, short circuits, overloads, load
    imbalances, and faulty components.
  • Marine and boating inpection
  • Law enforcement, firefighting and medical diagnostics.
  • Mechanical systems: detect problems in rotating equipment,  power
    transmission, fluid flow and insulation systems.
Marine applications include surveying the hull
of a ship or boat for leaks or cracks, and can
diagnose problems without the aid of a diver.
This image shows a welded portion of the hull of
this cargo ship.
Law enforcement utilizes thermal imaging to
detect suspects that may be hiding or running
in an unlit area. Firefighters use it to locate
people in buildings.
A poor connection between a 100 amp breaker and wire was
overheating in the image to the right. The image to the left
shows what is seen by the naked eye, where everything looks
normal.
The image above is courtesy of Boldstar
Imaging, which uses IRT for diagnosing
medical conditions for people or animals
as an alternative to MRI.
Mechanical inspection of motors for preventive maintenance