Drone Building Inspection With Thermal Imaging

2. Drone Building Inspection With Thermal Imaging • In a broad range of environments, thermal imaging cameras are extremely necessary. Thermal imaging enhances the variety of tasks a robotic system can perform in high-risk environments or during emergencies. So let us first understand what thermal imaging is? What is Thermal Imaging? • To analyze conditions in a better way, thermal imaging cameras efficiently convert heat – that is, thermal energy – into visible light. This makes them very flexible. Living objects and mechanical equipment put out heat, making them visible to thermal devices even in the dark. Such cameras can be very accurate, needing only a small amount of heat to operate efficiently.

3. How Does Thermal Imaging Work? • For humans and other animals, visible light is incredibly useful, but it’s only a small part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared radiation, the kind produced by heat, in the spectrum takes up more “space.” What thermal imaging cameras record and measure are the interaction of heat being absorbed, reflected, and often even transmitted. • The level of thermal radiation emitted by an object is called its heat signature. Hot objects leak more radiation into the environment. The thermal imager can differentiate heat sources and very small differences in thermal radiation. This data is compiled into a full “heat map” differentiated by levels of heat.

4. What is Thermal Imaging used for? • Since the Korean War, thermal imaging cameras have been used and were initially used at night for scouting and combat. They have since been improved to be used in crisis zones by firefighters, electricians, law enforcement officials, and rescue teams. They are also commonly used in the inspection, repair, and optimization of buildings. Electrical maintenance in buildings: – There are many uses of thermal imaging for electrical maintenance. For example, thermal imaging is used by power line technicians to identify and pinpoint joints and parts that are at risk of overheating because they already emit more heat than the stronger sections. With the help of thermal imaging, it is very easy to find loose connections or devices that are faulty or malfunctioning.

5. Plumbers: – It is very easy for plumbers to detect any leaks through walls and pipes with the help of thermal imaging. They can easily reach those parts that are hard to detect and pose safety issues to workers. • Mechanical and building construction technicians: – Imaging is used to rapidly detect leaks when dealing with thermal insulation, which is critical for maintaining effective temperature control in a house. They can examine the construction of a building at a glance, and spot faults. Heat loss from walls, HVAC systems, doors, and windows are typical thermal performance problems that a thermal imager can easily pick up. • Animal and Pest management: – It’s an area in which thermal imagers have a surprising number of applications. Without having to climb up to find them, thermal imaging can help spot rodents or animals in dark roof areas, and they can detect possible termite activity. Read More