The drop in price for thermal sensors and cameras has helped the thermal industry cross over into more commercial applications, as well as gain more momentum in security applications.
The drop in price for thermal sensors and cameras has helped the thermal industry cross over into more commercial applications, as well as gain more momentum in security applications.
As a technology, thermal has been pigeonholed in terms of where consumers think it can and cannot be used. Although, thermal imaging technology was originally developed for military use, where it is still primarily used today, its applications have expanded into other fields. With the addition of analytics to thermal, new smart thermal cameras have emerged, finding a space in more verticals.
Marriage of Thermal and Analytics
“Analytics optimized for use with the video signal that comes out of a thermal camera is the biggest factor in helping people to get the most out of their cameras,” said Bill Klink, VP of Security and Surveillance at Flir Systems.
The idea of video analytics standard “on the edge” inside thermal cameras is a growing trend in the thermal industry, as noted by Jeremy Hickman, Business Development Manager, Thermal Imaging at Pelco by Schneider Electric. “The addition of video analytics provides an ability for security to be notified in real-time of a threat, allowing the guard force to concentrate on active response where needed, rather than spending countless hours monitoring a video feed that may contain no threats.” Furthermore, Hickman added that thermal imaging cameras are the superior choice to be used with video analytics, due to the use of contrast associated with heat signatures rather than reflected light.
As a company, SightLogix focuses on thermal with video analytics specifically designed for accurate perimeter security, day and night, in zero light, and all weather and geographies. John Romanowich, CEO and founder of SightLogix addressed the issue of people looking at image processing and analytics in thermal cameras as an afterthought; however, “it cannot be an afterthought because in order to process the data you need to be tightly coupled to the thermal camera.” Romanowich further noted, “the amount of data you need to actually process a thermal image is actually not even available outside the camera.” Absolute tight coupling for image processing is required for stable analytic detection and a good image. And, in order to achieve either of those things they must be done inside the camera.