Surveillance in security, law enforcement and defence

Surveillance

Because the thermal imager does not require light and only receives heat energy, it can be used to observe potential criminal activity at a distance. Whether suspects dealing drugs on the street, or trying to steal, low-light conditions work to their benefit. An officer can use a thermal imager to observe suspects from a distance, watching their activity and building further reasonable suspicion or probable cause. The thermal imagery can be recorded for use as evidence later, or merely used to justify specific interaction with the suspects.

 
Hidden Compartments
Because the heat signature of a material's surface is affected by its material as well as its density, hidden compartments can be identified with a thermal imager. When the difference in density between the compartment and the surrounding surface is great, the likelihood of identifying it with the thermal imager is higher. For example, the space in a car door is normally empty. However, if the door is packed with drugs or money, its density will be different in the areas of the contraband. As a result, the thermal image will show a suspicious heat signature that can lead an officer to further investigation.

Production monitoring in R&D

In the area of process monitoring, product quality assurance, and Research and Development, the use of a thermal imager is often the prerequisite for more security and precise situation analysis. In addition to foreign bodies in production processes, anomalies in the distribution of heat in components are also recognized quickly and without contact. The extremely short focus distance of 10 cm assists when detecting overheated components, e.g. on circuit boards.