What is Thermal Imaging

Your cell phone detects and records images and videos using the visible spectrum of light. Thermal imaging does the same thing, but detects the infrared portion of the light spectrum.

Infrared light is actually heat. It is invisible to human sight, but is still there. All objects (except when they are really, really cold, have heat and are therefore putting out infrared light.

It’s also called infrared imaging and thermography. Thermal imaging is photography (either on film or digitally) that captures the image based on wavelengths of light that have a lower frequency than normal, visual light.

Light is brought into a lens, which focuses an image on film or, with digital photography, on a photosensitive sensor. Thermal imaging does the same thing, but using only light in the infrared spectrum.

Two identical cups. Seen in the infrared light spectrum, they are very different.

Ice water (left) and hot water (right). The difference is the heat radiated from the different cups, as seen in the infrared portion of light.

Tuning up the image of the cold cup of ice water can even differentiate where the water level begins and where the ice cubes are.

The range of the temperatures in the image are displayed below. Thermal imaging can differentiate very small differences in temperature.

Such sensitivity can even see where some of the water spilled and where a hand was rested when wiping the water up. These pictures display only a 10 degree total difference in temperature.

The sensitivity of the camera provides a great tool, but improper training can lead to false positives. Proper, professional training is essential for good inspections, liability avoidance and proper client service.

Thermal Imaging has many different applications. Two feet.

Is there anything special about the image? I jammed my toe. This increased blood flow raised the temperature in the toe. Thus, the image shows the third toe as ‘hotter’ than the rest.

Thermal imaging is also used as a diagnostic technique for the detection of breast cancer. The tumors are more active, with a higher blood flow then the surrounding tissues and are ‘hotter’.

This image shows a small nodular tumor in the upper center of the right breast.

This technology can also be used on other, more mundane subjects, such as a house.

Hot spots (heat loss) and cold spots (possible water intrusion) can be detected that cannot be seen with the naked eye.

Permission from InterNachi www.nachi.org