How and where are thermal imaging cameras used

Thermal imaging cameras are used in a variety of different fields. They can help give people a better understanding of a problem or situation in order to help find a solution quickly. These are some of the industries and situations where thermal imaging cameras would be of use.

The fire services

Thermal imaging cameras are ideal for the fire brigade. Fire fighters face constant challenges when trying to put out a fire, such as whether a building fire is spreading, or trying to locate a missing person in a house fire. In both of these circumstances thermal imaging cameras are very important pieces of fire fighting equipment. They help fire fighters by showing the hottest points of the fire and guiding fire fighters when visibility is poor.

The police

The police have a number of different uses for thermal imaging cameras. These uses can be for things such as investigations, finding and locating a criminal on the run or detecting cannabis factories. This is done by using either a hand-held device or thermal imaging camera on a police helicopter. Both of these forms of camera help police by giving them easily distinguishable heat signatures of people or buildings that could be of police interest.

Sport

There are also sports that use thermal imaging cameras. These include F1 and Cricket. F1 uses thermal imaging cameras to monitor various temperatures around the car including the brakes and tyres. They can help a team’s analysis personnel determine if there is a problem and if so the severity of this problem and if it is something that they will need to pit the car for. In cricket it is used as a review system called hot spot and is used by the third umpire if a wicket is unclear or has been challenged by the players. It helps the umpire see if the ball has skimmed a surface such as a bat or leg pads.

Hopefully this has given you an idea of some of the uses where thermal imaging cameras are used to aid people when they need them. If you can think of other uses that require thermal imaging cameras then tell us about them in the comments box below, we would love to hear about them.