Australia?
 
When someone is ill, you will usually check their temperature. Similarly, you will heat food to high temperatures to ensure that it cools thoroughly. Overheat automotive and electrical components can result in failures and breakdowns. These are merely a few examples of how people typically relate to heat and temperature on an ongoing basis. To add to these, the use of infrared cameras has become increasingly more commonplace these days. These devices enable you to get graphical depictions of temperature rather than a number. To produce these images, infrared cameras rely on the concept of thermal imaging (or thermography). This technology enables an infrared camera to capture an image of invisible infrared light that an object has emitted. This enables the users to identify various kinds of issues that help them in their day-to-day jobs.
 
Some of the most popular kinds of thermal cameras include:
 

• The FLIR E60: This device offers high levels of resolution. It offers a comprehensive range of in-class features too. It offers a convenient file format that makes it easier to share video files. It can capture 0.005 to 0.08 megapixels (the higher the better). But, this device does not come with an autofocus feature.
• The Fluke Ti400: This device offers a unique blend of comprehensive features and excellent resolution. The high resolution enables users to get exceptional detail in their thermal images. But, you will need to use special software for viewing radiometric files.
• The FLIR E50: This device has all the crucial features and functions that users will want from their infrared thermal imaging cameras. It comes with an infrared resolution of 0,04 megapixels. Its in-built Wi-Fi enables users to share important data quickly too. But, like the E60, it lacks the autofocus feature.
• The Fluke Ti300: This device has a 240x180 resolution, which is much lower than the highest camera resolutions. But, it still provides sufficient detail to suit most kinds of applications. This camera comes with voice and text annotations. So, you can easily keep notes along with your images. But, the images in this camera have a proprietary format. Thus, you’ll need to convert your images before sharing them with some who doesn’t have IS2-compatible software.
• The FLIR E40: At an attractive price, this device offers rich features and good resolution. It doesn’t come with an autofocus feature. As such, focusing the camera will require more time. But, you could use almost any photo viewer for viewing the radiometric JPEG files.
• The FLIR E8: This is among the highest resolution cameras that you could come across in Australia. It offers a resolution of 320x240. But, this camera does not offer many additional features that other thermal cameras typically have. For instance, this device does not offer Wi-Fi, touchscreen functionality and voice annotation.

As mentioned earlier, building inspectors often use infrared cameras in their work. This device enables them to identify areas where heat can escape from the house. The more leakages they come across, the more energy inefficient the house will be. Similarly, they might use these cameras to detect the presence of various kinds of pest infestations. Thermal imaging helps these professionals to detect areas of cold air infiltration, water infiltration and excessive moisture levels. Some people use these devices for identifying air leaks. insulation gaps and electrical drops too. Police officers use these devices for tracking suspects. Other agencies use these devices for carrying out search and rescue operations. Each of these applications pertains to the day-to-day activities of these professionals. It is not something that was only used by a specific kind of professional for a specific activity.
 
In other words, this means that the concept of thermal imaging has moved on from being a purely militaristic technology. In its infancy, its scope of use was not as diverse as it is today. Nowadays, professionals in different industries utilise this technology in a myriad of ways. But, the question remains, whether the average Australian requires a thermal camera on a smartphone. It might be worthwhile getting a smartphone with an infrared camera in case you want to:

• Perform a thermal inspection of your own home for spotting thermal bridges and insulation leaks
• Check for leaking pipes as moisture creates a temperature difference, whereby damp floors and walls can come up easily on thermal cameras
• Checking for the infestation of various kinds of pests as these infestations will have distinctive heat signatures
• Check for leaks in the tyres of your vehicles
• Locate various automotive problems such as friction heating in conveyor belts
• Spot signs of overheating in various electrical installations to prevent a failure or a breakdown
• Ensure that your compost and garbage heaps do not trigger fires by means of spontaneous combustion that decay and oxidation can typically combine to produce
• Detect moisture stress in your orchards or fields when your plants need water – the signs will often show up on thermal images long before they become apparent to the naked eye
• Find missing cats or dogs in the neighbourhood
• Locate elusive birds that you cannot see but only hear because these birds camouflage themselves well
• Spot passengers at airports with various illnesses and ailments to prevent contracting the infection

As mentioned earlier, the term FLIR stands for Forward Looking Infrared Radar. The US military used this term to denote airborne thermal imaging units that looked forward instead of sideways. In recent times, the term has begun denoting Forward Looking InfraRed systems.
 
In the domain of FLIR imaging systems, FLIR imaging refers to night vision technology. Military personnel used thermal imaging for surveillance purposes. In addition, they used it for target acquisition and tracking as well. The helicopters that these personnel use have forward looking infrared units mounted on them. This enables these units to provide the pilots with thermal images miles ahead of the helicopter. Not surprisingly, fighter planes use thermal infrared imaging systems to locate and control fire when zeroing in on specific targets.
 
It is common knowledge that night vision devices rely on light amplification for producing images. However, thermal image cameras take traditional light amplification one step further. The human eye can only see the narrow middle band of visible light that comprises the colours of the rainbow. However, thermal infrared imagers can depict the energy transmitted in the infrared wavelength into coherent data. The imager can process this data into a visible light spectrum video display as well.
 
It is worth highlighting that all objects above zero degrees Kelvin typically emit thermal infrared energy. This is sufficient for understanding why thermal imagers can see all objects regardless of the prevalent visibility conditions. On the battlefield, this technology can give an army a significant advantage. Stealth technology has advanced rapidly in recent times. This technology has made machines that even the best radars cannot detect. In addition, it has created machines with minimal infrared heat signature. This signature enables thermally guided missiles to home in on their targets. Despite this, FLIR devices can track the thermal signature of battle machines and soldiers very easily. Night vision devices can, on occasions, be easy to fool. But, thermal imaging devices simply offer intruders and other objects no place for hiding or concealing themselves.

For the uninitiated, FLIR refers to Forward Looking Infrared Radiometer. This denotes a technology that the US military developed back in the 1970s. Many people make the mistake of assuming that FLIR refers to night vision. But, this is not the case. FLIR devices have the capability of creating images in extremely poor visibility conditions as well. For instance, these cameras can create images even through fog and dust. Night vision devices usually need some amount of light. By magnifying this light, these devices can create the image of the object. In contrast, FLIR cameras do not require light at all. By detecting the levels of heat that an object emits, these devices can produce high-quality images even in zero visibility conditions.
 
Aircrafts and satellites often utilise thermal imaging systems. These systems tend to look sideways, which is peripheral to the direction of travel. In contrast, FLIR systems always look in the direction in which they travel. FLIR devices can create images of objects that you cannot view with your naked eyes. As such, they often act as a set of artificial eyes. Radiometers typically measure the amount of radiant energy that a specific area is emitting. Based on its ability to detect the heat transmitted, a FLIR system can create an image based on the measured variations in radiant energy across the entire area that the system is scanning. Drivers and pilots often use FLIR systems for steering their crafts in low visibility or in conditions of complete darkness. Some people use these systems to detect gas leaks as well. Others use these systems for monitoring volcanoes.