Blog
June 19, 2020

How Do Infrared Cameras Work?

Infrared cameras are changing how we see the world. From temperature screenings in workplaces to home inspections in real estate, countless professionals are now capitalizing on the benefit of IR imaging. But why? Infrared technology brings hidden treasures and lurking threats safely into an observable view.

While traditional visible-light cameras capture images of objects radiating light visible to the naked eye, an infrared camera captures what the human eye cannot see. All objects radiate energy, but some wavelengths within the electromagnetic spectrum are invisible. Detectors in an infrared camera capture a particular range of invisible energy emission (700-1000 nm) and then express each heat value (or wavelength) through a set of corresponding colors. The resulting image is called a thermography.

What is an Infrared Camera Used For?

Infrared cameras have a wide range of industry applications. Though recently, they have gained widespread international attention for their ability to perform temperature calculations in temperature screening measures, thermal imaging cameras can also help medical and veterinary professionals to identify injury and illness. Electricians and building inspectors utilize IR technology to detect deterioration, corrosion, leaks, and other potential dangers.

IR is advantageous because obstructions like fog or darkness do not limit the outcome. For example, law enforcement officers and hunters can use thermography to detect security threats or predators under the cover of night or even hidden behind objects or walls. Infrared photography also provides a level of safety as there is no direct contact necessary to obtain the measurement in potentially high-risk situations.

Do Infrared Cameras Work In the Daylight?

Infrared cameras should not be confused with night vision, which enhances visible light. Because infrared cameras measure light that is not visible, they can work in darkness as well as daylight. Some professional photographers enjoy using infrared cameras to capture artistic images because they reflect elements like colors, textures, the sky, trees, and even human subjects differently than visible light photographs. For commercial and industrial use, ICI offers numerous products that will capture the heat and energy emissions outside in broad daylight.

What Do Thermal Imaging Colors Mean?

Because infrared radiation is not visible, color palettes are convenient ways to see and understand a thermal image. Within the camera is an infrared sensor along with thousands of pixels. Each pixel captures the radiation emitted from the target area and is individually expressed in the final image. The final image shows the full temperature of every pixel — not just the average.

The color map, or palette, can be assigned and specifically tailored to give a visual representation of the different wavelength emissions. For instance, you may opt to have colder temperatures expressed by the color blue, medium yellow, and red hot. The combined readings of each pixel are processed and produces a thermal image, a vibrant RGB rendering based on the selected color map.

For example, in most thermal images, red and bright white symbolize the hottest parts of the image. Green, blue, and purple symbolize cooler temperatures.

How To Get the Best Thermal Images

While infrared cameras detect and project object temperature with extreme accuracy, there are many factors to consider in order to ensure correct data.

Not all infrared cameras are created equal. Some are designed for industrial use, while others are better suited for medical use or other purposes. Proper tools and an understanding of the equipment are essential.

You must also consider environmental conditions when utilizing infrared imaging cameras. Since the images measure radiated heat, external factors such as the sun, shadows, cold temperature, rain or windy conditions (even HVAC systems indoors) must be considered. Users should follow the ISO 13154 standard for proper implementation of medical-use cameras. Another consideration is the emissivity of an object itself, which is the rate at which infrared energy is emitted by an object. Allowing for these by utilizing settings within the camera body will help to mitigate error.

Why ICI

Infrared cameras, and the unique view of the world they offer, are growing in popularity in a number of industries worldwide. Understanding the proper use of these incredible tools is just as important as understanding the technology itself.

At Infrared Cameras Inc, we help connect customers with the proper tools for their thermal imaging needs and offer calibration services to help make adjustments for some of the factors mentioned above. Additionally, our sister company Infrared Training Institute offers a series of courses to inform and equip thermographers.

To learn more about implementing infrared cameras into your business, or for professional tools and tips, contact us or check out an upcoming ITI training course.

LATEST NEWS

Other Resources

News
December 5, 2023
ICI Announces SmartIR Now Available on AWS Marketplace

AI-Powered Condition-Based Monitoring Platform Helps Reliability and Operations Leaders
Automate and Optimize Predictive Maintenance and Maximize Operational Uptime

December 1, 2023 – Infrared Cameras, Incorporated (ICI) announced today that their asset reliability and operational efficiency optimization platform, SmartIR, is now available in AWS Marketplace., that runs on Amazon Web Services (AWS). AWS Marketplace is a digital catalog that makes it easy for customers to find, test, buy and deploy software listings from independent vendors. AWS Marketplace will help ICI customers simplify their SmartIR procurement process through consolidated billing, custom pricing and terms, and various other benefits.

ICI’s SmartIR platform enables the automation of asset reliability and operational efficiency initiatives through AI-powered continuous monitoring capabilities. Leveraging data inputs from thermal and acoustic imaging, and from vibration sensing, SmartIR continuously monitors the performance and condition of critical mechanical and electrical assets, and manufactured outputs, across a variety of industrial, environmental, and commercial settings.

The SmartIR platform informs predictive maintenance and reliability for a customer’s most critical assets, monitors manufactured outputs for quality issues, and provides early-stage fire detection and safety alerts throughout the facility.

“We at ICI are extremely excited about the continued development of our relationship with AWS,” said Gary Strahan, CEO of ICI. “Our company’s goal is to elevate our customers’ predictive maintenance and reliability strategies, quality assurance processes, and employee health and safety protocols. Having our SmartIR Platform in AWS Marketplace allows ICI to reach more of AWS’s customers and offer a frictionless experience for procuring and deploying our condition-based monitoring capabilities.”

For more information, please visit www.infraredcameras.com/smartir-platform.

About Infrared Cameras

ICI’s SmartIR is an AWS-powered software platform that leverages ICI-built thermal imaging, acoustic imaging, and vibration sensing devices for condition-based monitoring of critical mechanical and electrical assets and manufactured outputs. ICI’s solutions are deployed by organizations to protect critical assets across a wide range of industries including distribution & logistics, manufacturing, utilities, and oil & gas. ICI’s sensing solutions are built around high-resolution thermal imaging along with visible, acoustic, vibration and laser spectroscopy imagers and sensors. This full-stack solution measures heat, sound, and gas in the surrounding environment, helping companies gain insight to efficiently manage their most important assets and infrastructure. ICI designs and manufactures digital thermal sensing solution platforms with edge and cloud-based software.

For more information, please visit https://infraredcameras.com/.

About Infrared Cameras’ Proposed Business Combination With SportsMap Tech Acquisition Corp

On December 5, 2022, Infrared Cameras Holdings, Inc., ICI’s parent company, entered into a business combination agreement with SportsMap Tech Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: SMAP) relating to a proposed business combination between the parties that would result in Infrared Cameras Holdings becoming a public company. SMAP has filed a definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed business combination and the special meeting of its stockholders, scheduled for December 8, 2023, to vote to approve the proposed business combination and related matters. The parties have applied to have the combined company’s common stock listed on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol “MSAI”.

SMAP and ICI urge all interested persons to read the definitive proxy statement, which contains important information about SMAP, ICI and the proposed transaction. The definitive proxy statement can be obtained without charge at www.sec.gov.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts, including statements concerning the benefit of ICI’s SmartIR platform to customers and potential customers and SMAP’s or ICI’s beliefs about the proposed business combination transaction and ability of the combined company to qualify to list on NASDAQ. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “believes,” “predicts,” “estimates,” “expects,” “projects,” “forecasts,” “may,” “will,” “would,” “should,” “seeks,” “plans,” “scheduled,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “future,” “potential,” “opportunity,” or other similar expressions, the negatives of these terms or variations of them, although not all forward-looking statements will include such identifying words. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about the future events that are based on SMAP’s or ICI’s current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. Certain of these risks are identified and discussed in SMAP’s definitive proxy statement relating to the proposed business combination transaction and other filings SMAP or the combined company may make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risk factors will be important to consider in determining future results and should be reviewed in their entirety. Neither SMAP nor ICI is under any obligation, and expressly disclaim any obligation, to update, alter or otherwise revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Media Contact:

Multi-Sensor AI

Andrew Klobucar

Director of Marketing

Andrew.klobucar@infraredcameras.com

Investor Contact:

Alpha IR Group

Mike Cummings or Griffin Morris

MSAI@alpha-ir.com

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News
July 25, 2023
Infrared Cameras, Incorporated Joins the AWS Public Sector Partner Program

July 26, 2023 – Infrared Cameras, Incorporated (ICI), announced today that they have joined the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Public Sector Partner (PSP) Program and completed the AWS Foundational Technical Review (FTR) to validate SmartIR. Completing the AWS FTR ensures ICI’s solutions uphold AWS standards in architectural design. In addition, the AWS PSP Program helps AWS Partners grow their public sector business through alignment with AWS public sector sales, marketing, funding, capture, and proposal teams. 

ICI leverages AWS to power its intelligent thermal imaging and condition monitoring software, SmartIR. Validated by the AWS FTR, SmartIR utilizes data points from thermal imaging and sensing technologies to continuously monitor the performance and condition of critical mechanical and electrical assets in industrial, environmental, and commercial settings. The SmartIR platform informs predictive maintenance for these assets, provides early fire detection and safety alerts, and robust reporting and analysis capabilities to optimize operational processes. By reinforcing SmartIR around AWS best practices for security, reliability, and operational excellence, ICI delivers a fully scalable asset reliability and safety platform built on AWS. 

“ICI is honored to join the AWS Public Sector Partner Program,” said Gary Strahan, CEO of ICI. “AWS has long been recognized as a leading cloud services provider and it is an honor to meet their standards and bring their technical advantages to our customers leveraging our SmartIR solution.” 

As an AWS PSP Program member, ICI is recognized as an AWS Partner with cloud-based solutions who have experience supporting government, space, education, and non-profits around the world ICI has long provided solutions to government entities, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Department of Transportation, and various state and municipal governments. 

For more information, please visit www.infraredcameras.com/smartir-platform

About Infrared Cameras, Incorporated

ICI builds thermal imaging and sensing platforms that are utilized by organizations to protect critical assets across a wide range of industries including distribution & logistics, manufacturing, utilities, and oil & gas. ICI’s sensing solutions are built around high-resolution thermal imaging along with visible, acoustic, and laser spectroscopy imagers and sensors, that perceive and measure heat, sound, and gas in the surrounding environment, helping companies gain insight to efficiently manage their most important assets and infrastructure. ICI designs and manufactures digital thermal sensing solution platforms with edge and cloud-based software. 

ICI believes that its digital thermal technology platform positions it at the center of a global revolution in thermal sensing, as the introduction of continuous streaming thermal data coupled with automated insights replaces intermittent manual thermal analysis, and cloud-connected thermal big data capture enables artificial intelligence and machine learning to elevate critical asset management to a new level. For more information, please visit https://infraredcameras.com/.

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News
September 27, 2022
ICI Debuts High Resolution Titan HD Infrared Camera

New Handheld Camera Pairs 1.3 Megapixel Resolution with an Affordable Price, Offering Ideal Solution for Long Distance Surveying of Critical Assets

Beaumont, Texas (September 26, 2022) -- Infrared Cameras Incorporated (ICI) today launched its Titan HD, a new 1.3-megapixel handheld camera that allows users to survey critical assets and infrastructure. The Titan HD’s 1280 x 1024 resolution is the highest in the industry for handheld thermal imagers, allowing for reliable, accurate temperature readings, even from a significant distance.

Engineered to accurately survey large and distant applications, the Titan HD leverages a 5.5-inch color LCD screen and 35 different temperature analysis points to aid in data collection and analysis in the field. The camera is also designed to cover a wide range of applications, measuring temperatures up to 1500 degrees Celsius (2,732 degrees Fahrenheit) to an accuracy of 1 degree Celsius.

“The Titan HD is a complete game changer, providing the highest resolution for a handheld camera in the industry” said Gary Strahan, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of ICI. “With 1.3 million pixels, users can survey vast applications like electrical substations and transmission lines quickly yet with extremely granular accuracy. Combine this with ICI’s leading SmartIR software and you have a solution that is unparalleled for inspections. This solution is especially valuable for applications requiring a small measurement spot size at long distance. The camera is also much lighter weight than many systems on the market that provide far less resolution.”

With leading resolution, a rotating viewfinder, and an ICI’s user-friendly SmartIR software, the camera is ideal for a wide range of inspection applications, including surveying electrical transmission lines and substations, petrochemical and plant equipment, insulation and building envelope inspections, scientific applications and much more. Users can define isotherms, record annotations, enable alarming functions, and capture images at set intervals. Video streaming is available via USB Type-C or HDMI.

Features include:

  • Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support
  • Touchscreen, 5.5” color LCD
  • Hot spot and cold spot tracing
  • Up to 35 temperature analysis elements
  • Customized color alarm isotherms
  • High-temperature measuring
  • Audible alarm settings
  • Automatic/manual file naming
  • Video streaming via USB Type-C or HDMI
  • Predefined text annotation lists
  • Voice annotation support

For more, please visit www.infraredcameras.com.

About Infrared Cameras Inc.

Infrared Cameras Inc has been a leader in developing and manufacturing innovative infrared imaging technology since 1995. Veteran-owned and based in Beaumont, Texas, ICI offers complete infrared solutions, including equipment, custom designs, software, calibration, training, and more. The company's mission is to develop the most sensitive, accurate, and competitively priced infrared cameras in the world. To learn more about Infrared Cameras, visit www.infraredcameras.com or follow ICI on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube and Facebook.

Press Contact:

Andrew Klobucar

Andrew.klobucar@infraredcameras.com

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