Infrared/Thermal Imaging Technology FAQ
What is infrared thermography and how does it work?
What are the physical principles behind infrared thermography?
How does the infrared camera “see” heat?
How do you detect moisture?
What is infrared thermography and how does it work?
According to the Institute of Infrared Thermography, infrared thermography is the technique that uses an infrared imaging and measurement camera to "see" and "measure" invisible infrared energy being emitted from an object. Simply, infrared thermography is a technology that allows thermal or infrared radiation and light to be transformed into a visible image.
What are the physical principles behind infrared thermography?
According to the institute, Thermal, or infrared energy, is energy that is not visible because its wavelength is too long for the sensors in the human eye to detect. Infrared energy is the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans perceive as heat. In the infrared spectrum, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits infrared electromagnetic energy. Even cold objects such as ice cubes, emit infrared radiation. The higher the temperature of the object, the greater the infrared radiation emitted.
How does the infrared camera “see” heat?
Older and less expensive infrared cameras captured these temperature gradations as varying shades of gray, while today’s new infrared imaging technology presents objects in easily perceived bright colors. Today good cameras can image temperatures from -20 to 500°C, and can be extended down to -40°C, and up to 2000°C.
These cameras can also make temperature measurements, with accuracies to around ±2% at 30°C. The camera stores this data and images on removable digital media. The images and data are easily downloadable and readable with desktop and laptop computer operating systems.
How do you detect moisture?
The temperature of building materials changes when they become wet, or even moist. So for example, how does an infrared camera track a leak in a commercial roofing system? Even though there is a leak, not all of the roofing system’s insulation is wet, so we adjust our infrared camera to pick up the contrast between the wet area(s) and the dry area(s) of the insulation. Imaging contrast between adjacent areas of the same material is the general principle behind this type of moisture detection.
If you are experiencing leaks, moisture, or energy loss, see for yourself with our high resolution color infrared equipment. Call us for a speedy, cost-effective solution to your problem.
©2009, Infrared Building Diagnostics, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Who We Are The Problem See for Yourself IR Tech FAQ Contact Us Home |
