Blog Archives - Infratherm

Thermal Imaging – A Cost Effective Solution to Suit a Myriad of Uses and Applications

28/9/2016

Countries the world over strive to maintain peace. This is not just with their neighbouring countries, but also internally. Peace enables trade and commerce to flourish. This helps in enhancing the prosperity levels of the country. At the same time, it helps in facilitating the concept of interdependence where two or more countries typically rely on each other for various commodities. On almost all fronts, war does not seem a viable option. The untold suffering and misery that it eventually leads to often makes it seem as if there are few or no positives that emerge from engaging in war. However, war often leads to the emergence of new technologies and innovations. The people behind the development of these technologies might initially aim at gaining competitive edges in the conflict. However, in the long-term scenario, many of these technologies and innovations yield far more value for local consumers living in their everyday worlds.

For instance, many people would have some idea about infrared thermal imaging cameras. These cameras rely on the process of thermal imaging. This involves detecting radiation (or heat) from the infrared spectrum and converting it into images. These cameras offer widespread use in the security industry. Property owners use them for detecting the presence of unwanted intruders in the vicinity of their residential or commercial properties. Today, these cameras have widespread use in a variety of applications. But, not many people would know that thermography emerged from the Cold War era. In the early 1950s, the military used it for various spying-related purposes. However, nearly a decade later, the medical industry began to appreciate this technology. They began using it for detecting cancers, as some cancers typically emitted higher levels of heat than the surrounding tissues. These days, thermal imaging has found widespread use in a myriad of applications. As technology continues to advance, the prices of these devices continue to plummet. As a result, purchasing these cameras for meeting an array of needs is increasingly becoming more affordable for property owners across the country.

Thermal Camera Software

21/9/2016

Equally as important as the camera itself is the thermal IP camera software that comes along with it. The software is necessary simply because it is what you will use in the analysis and other functions that will be performed on the camera the images that were taken using it. When it comes to the software, you’ll have to consider many things like how many people will be using the software and what access codes will be needed, and how do you distribute these codes to them or your personnel. You also need to consider if you will need multiple licenses or a single license, especially if you intend to have the software installed in several computers. This becomes even more important if you need to install the same software on different computers located in different areas, or wherever your office’ branch maybe.
In addition to the above, is the software provided to you compatible with your existing computers? What are the requirements of the software? On what operating system does it run? This is important because you’ll want to make sure that you get the minimum computer requirements in order to fully enjoy the software. Furthermore, what about the software updates? Will your computer be able to accommodate the new and latest updates and drivers? If you fail to take these into consideration, you’ll find yourself choosing between changing the thermal camera and its software, or changing your computers and upgrading to a newer one – both alternatives can be rather expensive.

Lastly, is the software included in the total cost of the infrared camera you will be purchasing, or do you have to buy it separately? There are companies who sell the camera and the software as one package, but then you may find that the software included is not the full version of what they can offer, and so you’ll need to spend more money in buying the full and complete version.

Handheld, Mounted, Panning, Tilted, Aerial…

14/9/2016

As you may have already guessed in the above title, there are several types of infrared thermal imaging cameras available in the market nowadays, and with the rapid and continuous developments in technology and manufacturing, you can only expect more types to come in the following years.
Many people who purchase thermal image cameras usually prefer the handheld units because of many reasons. For one, they are much easier to carry around, meaning they can be used for a wide variety of applications where portability is a must. These includes research, electrical and mechanical, building inspections and energy audits, process control, and so much more. Because they are small and lightweight, then can be brought and used almost anywhere.

When you choose to buy a handheld infrared camera, there are certain things that you must consider. Remember that you will be holding the unit whenever you use it, so you should consider how comfortable it is in your hand, especially when you use it for extended periods. In addition, take note of the battery life and how long it will last per charge. There is no point of getting a handheld unit which runs out of batteries in an hour or less. There are many other considerations that needs to be taken including the size of the LCD and the lens size (which are usually smaller than the mounted types), the accessories that come with the unit, the storage capacity and video output and many others.

A mounted thermal camera is more recommended for applications where there is a need for long-term or permanent imaging. There are many types and designs available for these particular types of cameras, and as with the earlier mentioned type, certain considerations must be taken.
For example, if you are going to mount the thermal camera outdoors, will it need certain accessories or are there measures required in order to protect the camera from the weather and other outdoor elements? How will you protect it from extreme weather conditions like heat or cold, or even humidity? In addition, will the camera be a fix mount installation or one that needs pan and tilt features?
If you are going to install them in a vehicle or if you’re ever going to need a drone thermal camera, you will need some stabilization features to prevent shaky image captures and protect the camera itself from extreme vibration. Where do you get accessories for such purpose, and how do you plan to install them? And what about the power options? How do you keep the thermal camera powered while being used?

There are different types of thermal cameras available – there are even applications for thermal camera for android and thermal camera for smartphone nowadays – and equally as many are the considerations that needs to be taken in finding the right one that best suits your needs. If you’re not sure about how to go with the choosing process, talking to an infrared camera expert or a reputable supplier should be able to make the process easier.

Choosing Between Qualitative and Quantitative Infrared Camera

6/9/2016

When buying an infrared camera, you will generally have to choose between a qualitative infrared camera and a quantitative infrared camera. To be brief, a qualitative infrared camera will be able to view thermal differences but not read temperatures, whereas a quantitative infrared camera is capable of providing you with accurate temperature readings. To further explain, it is necessary to look at what qualitative and quantitative measurements are.
Qualitative measurements looks at the differences in the thermal capacities or temperature of the target and its environment in order to determine abnormalities. As such, it is not important what the temperature of the target of the image is – the only purpose is to determine if the target’s thermal features are normal or not.On the other hand, quantitative measurements looks at the exact temperature of the image’s target. Here. The focus is on identifying if the target is within the expected temperature, or at least falls within a specified temperature range. This type of equipment is necessary and of utmost importance to research facilities and industries where accuracy is important to ensure optimal operations.Choosing between a qualitative or quantitative infrared camera is largely dependent on how you intend to use it, and both of them have their own pros as well as cons. Thus, first be sure about your purpose for owning one before you commit to a purchase.