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Thermal Imaging is
a growing technology that has many uses as shown on the Stockton
Infrared Thermographic Services, Inc. web site. Stockton is major service
company located in North Carolina, USA. They provide a wide range of infrared
thermographic services to their clients. They do not manufacture or represent
products and do not provide any services other than infrared, although many other
service companies do. Their web site features images, videos and a much information
on applications. Stockton is divided into four seperate divisions and provide
the following services which parallel the present major applications in maintenance,
process and R&D.
- AERIAL INFRARED* Aerial Roof Moisture Surveying
* Environmental Impact Surveying * Steam System Surveying
- ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL
PREDICTIVE MAINTENANCE* Electrical Switchgear IR/PM * Mechanical Systems IR/PM
* Steam System Infrared *
- BUILDING QUALITY ASSURANCE * Building Structural
Integrity * Heat Loss Analysis *
- PROCESS IMPROVEMENT & R&D * Process Improvement
* On-line feasibility studies * Unbiased IR camera selection consulting * Pulp
& Paper Industry Infrared * Infrared Research & Development
There are other uses
as shown in some detail on the Pro
Thermographers web site. The technology is beginning, among other things,
to impact the ability of many motorists to literally "see in the dark".
But as can be appreciated here, it is much, much more than night vision. The hyperlinks
on this and the other Thermography pages will take you to web places with many
images and thermal image videos that depict examples of the technology at work.
There are images on
the web sites of the thermography trainingcompanies,
the serviceproviders, the
equipment vendors and the various othe rresources
that support the technology.
Newer
variants of the technology especially the technique known as Thermal
Wave Imaging, have shown the remarkable ability to locate subsurface corrosion
and other problems in aging aircraft structures with great precision and confidence.
Thermal Imaging practiced
in the context of medical dignostics is also growing, but there it is known both
as Medical Thermography and "Thermology" to perhaps distinguish it from
the practices not involving a person's health. However the use of Thermal Imaging
in animal health areas with measurements for horses and small animals is well
established.
Thermography,
thermology , thermal
wave imaging , thermovision and thermal infrared night vision use thermal
imagers, some of which appear like slightly large video cameras.
Not
to be left in the dark, so to speak, the fire
rescue
and law enforcement communities have found there are numerous ways in which the practice of their
professions can be made safer and more effective with IR imaging equipment. The
new, more capable and compact cameras seem to be almost ideal for these uses.
These uses are usually classed as Night Vision and Security uses of thermal imaging.
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