The New Era
Thermal security cameras have become affordable
- By John Distelzweig
- Dec 01, 2017
As video manufacturers have been driven to differentiate
themselves in the marketplace, high-end surveillance
technologies have become accessible to a much
broader customer base. One technology of note is
thermal imaging.
Originally developed for military use in the mid-20th century,
thermal cameras translate thermal energy, or heat, into visible light,
enabling the accurate analysis of a particular object, individual or
scene in low-light, no-light or challenging lighting conditions. Thermal
images offer immediate situational awareness, and can also integrate
with analytics software for improved accuracy and reporting
capabilities.
As the cost of thermal security cameras has lowered, there has
been a substantial increase in the adoption of thermal cameras by security
end users outside of the government and critical infrastructure
space. This has heralded a new era of thermal imaging that is already
reshaping entire industries.
Law enforcement, for instance, uses thermal imaging for surveillance,
locating suspects, search and rescue operations, and protecting
borders. Here’s a look at additional uses of thermal cameras to provide
ROI in security and other verticals.
General Monitoring in
Harsh Environments
Monitoring facilities located in harsh environments requires specific
security hardware that is robust enough to endure extreme temperatures,
wind and humidity (or the lack of it). Solar farms are one of
the industries where thermal cameras are increasingly deployed.
These sites can experience extreme temperatures, so thermal cameras
have become the optimal choice to withstand intense sunlight
and heat. As solar farms are often unmanned, they are prime targets
of theft. Thermal cameras deliver 24-hour video monitoring and immediate
detection of intruders. Security forces are able to alert appropriate
law enforcement personnel remotely when security is breached,
day or night, in fair or foul weather.
Keeping Transportation
Moving and Secure
Thermal imaging has become more widely used for safety and security
in various critical transportation locations and facilities, from
bridges and tunnels, to ports and train depots. More and more, the
goal has become to proactively keep these places safe, secure and
moving before any major situations arise.
In any case, the information revealed
through round-the-clock thermal monitoring
identifies safety risks early enough so that
security staff can take action before those
risks become more extensive. They have also
been recently deployed in automated detection
of incidents, wrong way driving and
wildlife detection.
Detection of Unauthorized
Staff in Restricted Areas
In restricted locations where a perimeter
fence would be impractical or ineffective,
such as mines or rough terrain, thermal cameras
have become the go-to security tool to
detect and deny entry of unauthorized persons.
A particular advantage of thermal imaging
is the ability to detect individuals hidden
by darkness or foliage.
Long range thermal lenses can also cover
large expanses of land. Current thermal
technology is so sophisticated that security
personnel can easily distinguish between a
person crawling on the ground to escape detection
and small animals that happen to be
in the area. Thermal is also the perfect technology
to integrate with radar to better cover
wide open area perimeters.
Maritime Security and
Nighttime Navigation
In the maritime industry, thermal imaging
cameras vastly improve security and nighttime
navigation. Obstacles such as buoys,
other boats and object avoidance can be easily
detected making nighttime boating safer than
ever. Law enforcement can easily locate and
track suspicious vessels, conduct search and
rescue operations, including man overboard
in total darkness through light fog or haze.
Today’s advanced thermal imaging systems
also enable law enforcement personnel
to conduct surveillance at night while remaining
completely undetected, improving
officer safety.
24-Hour Surveillance for
Enterprises that Operate
Around the Clock
Correctional facilities offer another environment
where thermal imaging has proven of
great value. In lowlight interiors, where shadowy
areas can mask the activities of inmates,
thermal imaging can reveal the heat signatures
of people and objects no matter how
dark the environment.
Thermal cameras see through smoke so
the location of inmates and correctional
authorities is always known, even during a
fire rescue situation. Outside of prisons, in
inclement weather or under the darkness of
night, corrections officers can monitor prison
gates and perimeters without the use of
spotlights.
Thermal Imaging Cameras
to Disrupt Shoplifters
Shoplifting has always been an expensive
problem for retailers. From two-way mirrors
and CCTV cameras to detectives posing
as customers, retailers employ an array
of tools to combat the practice. However,
while these strategies may prove effective in
catching thieves in the act of stealing, once a stolen object is hidden inside clothing or
a bag, it’s difficult to determine whether a
theft has occurred.
While thermal cameras can’t see through
clothing, they can reveal temperature differences
on the surface of clothing caused by
objects hidden in a pocket or jacket. Thermal
imaging cameras with visual tracking analytics
software can also follow alleged thieves as
they roam around a given store. Successful
deployments have shown that thermal technology
can result in a 60 percent reduction
of stolen inventory.
Smoke Screen Reveal All
For years smoke screens have been employed
to protect assets and people from unwanted
intruders in business like banks, jewelry
stores and gas stations. At the first sign of
a threat, thick clouds of smoke are released,
disorienting intruders by reducing visibility
almost to zero.
Because thermal imagers can see through
smoke, combining smoke screen techniques
with thermal cameras enables responders to
more easily take control of the situation. Remote
control operators can confirm the status
of the intrusion and let police or other
responders know exactly what is going on,
as well as communicate the exact location of
intruders. In short, the addition of thermal
imaging cameras enables responders to neutralize
the threat.
Thermal Imaging Cameras
Mounted on Drones
Mounting thermal imaging cameras on
drones has brought new capabilities to a
number of industries, including security, law
enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue
operations and natural resource and wildlife
protection.
The ability to position a thermal imaging
camera with optimized resolution and optics
almost anywhere expands the possibilities of
situational awareness for a range of activities,
from tracking a suspect from a safe distance,
inspecting power lines, cell towers and
bridges, to precisely managing agriculture
and wildlife. The technology has become so
sophisticated that one operator now flies the
drone while a separate operator controls the
camera to achieve optimal results.
These new applications of thermal imaging
technology make accomplishing traditional
tasks easier and more efficient, while
also solving new challenges. Welcome to the
new era of thermal imaging.
Where would you
like to take the industry
next?
This article originally appeared in the December 2017 issue of Security Today.