Page 24 - Security Today, December 2017

The New Era
Thermal security cameras have become affordable
BAy John Distelzweig
s video manufacturers have been driven to differenti- ate themselves in the marketplace, high-end surveil- lance 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. Ther- mal images offer immediate situational awareness, and can also in- tegrate 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 se- curity 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 surveil- lance, locating suspects, search and rescue operations, and protecting borders. Here’s a look at additional uses of thermal cameras to pro- vide ROI in security and other verticals.
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General Monitoring in Harsh Environments
Monitoring facilities located in harsh environments requires specific security hardware that is robust enough to endure extreme tempera- tures, 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 cam- eras 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 im- mediate detection of intruders. Security forces are able to alert appro- priate 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 se- curity 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.
THERMAL IMAGING
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