An infrared camera is a very effective tool to detect people infected with a viral disease at a very early stage. Leading this technology are FLIR Infrared cameras developed in Sweden.  Several major airports in Asia discovered the benefit of infrared cameras in conjunction with the outbreak of  SARS a couple of years ago. They now use FLIR infrared cameras to scan whether arriving travelers can be contaminated with the ´N1H1 virus – the correct name of the virus behind the Swine Flu.

The infrared cameras used at the airports are specifically developed to detect individuals with high body temperatures in only a
couple of seconds. The cameras have been developed based on experience from previous Flu outbreaks such as SARS and Bird Flu
and are present in many airports in South East Asia, where the presence and threat of Bird Flu was the highest.

The camera produces infrared images or heat pictures of a person’s face and detects  whether the body temperature exceeds a
certain value or not. The symptoms of Swine Flu are sore throat, nausea, cough and of course fever.

“The aim is to efficiently identify and differentiate  individuals in good health from individuals with fever who might be
contaminated with the Swine Flu. After that, further medical analyses within the Public Health care will determine whether it is
Swine Flu or not”, says Arne Almerfors, Vice President FLIR Thermography.

The infrared cameras are very easy to use and have proven themselves as tools that can be operated by non-specialists after a few
hours of training.

“The camera needs no active monitoring as it has both color and sound alarm functions making staff aware of any passing
individuals with a body temperature exceeding a predefined value. On the camera display an infrared image of the individuals face
is produced, clearly marking different temperature areas as different colors. The highest temperature spot will be automatically
displayed and measured with one decimal accuracy”, says Arne Almerfors.

The infrared cameras from FLIR are very sensitive devices and measure temperature differences as small as 0.08 ºC. Ideally the
camera is set up at places with long queues such as passport or customs control. To achieve the correct temperature the camera
should focus on the most reliable temperature spot on the body – the corner of the eyes. Infrared cameras can play a vital role in
the efforts of keeping the spread of the Swine Flu or any other viral infection under control.

- Infrared cameras can be used in any environment where large numbers of  people are passing or staying, such as airports, train
stations, the underground or building lobby’s. “An infrared camera enables a quick and accurate identification of individuals that
might be infected by the virus”, says Arne Almerfors.

More details regarding Infrared cameras for temperature scanning, and Infrared images showing subjects with high body
temperatures can be found at http://www.flir-press.com/swineflu.html

Point #1: Buy an infrared camera that delivers accurate, repeatable results.

This may sound like a no-brainer, but if ever the phrase caveat emptor –i.e. “let the buyer beware” – it is here!

Point #2: Buy an infrared camera with high detector resolution/image quality.

Just like buying a digital camera, the more pixels, the better the resolution, and the sharper the thermal image.

Point #3: Buy an infrared camera where you can change the battery yourself.

This is one of the most important aspects of usability after you buy your new infrared camera. It’s also one of those items that is hard to process until after you’ve been working with your camera for awhile and you realize what a limitation it is if you can’t change your own battery.

Point #4: Buy an infrared camera that outputs standard JPEG format.

This point is short on text to explain, but long on being a clear benefit to end-users. Would you buy a computer that wasn’t Microsoft Word compatible? Of course not. You shouldn’t buy an infrared camera that requires additional software in order to convert their proprietary thermal image formats into a standard jpeg.

Point #5: Buy a lightweight, ergonomic infrared camera.

Material sciences, manufacturing robotics, and other key engineering factors will literally weigh on your decision of what infrared camera to purchase.

Point #6: Buy an infrared camera that incorporates a mega pixel visual camera with a built-in illuminator lamp to help clearly document your work.

Infrared cameras see in total darkness but visual cameras, as we all know, require well lighted conditions and high resolution to generate clear, sharp pictures.

Point #7: Buy an infrared camera with a built-in laser pointer.

Safety, convenience and ease-of-use are all good reasons to buy an infrared camera with a built-in laser pointer. These tend to be available on all cameras, except for the most basic, entry level models.

Point #8: Buy an infrared camera with software upgrade potential.

Today, most infrared cameras come with free software to help you analyze your images and create reports. By all accounts, they are a helpful tool made all the more necessary by both the corporate need to document findings, but also increasingly to use thermal images and reports to substantiate or trigger insurance claims, while the reports themselves are often sold to commercial and consumer customers for a wide range of inspections: energy audits, electrical inspections, gas detection surveys, building envelope analyses and predictive maintenance surveys.

Point #9: Buy an infrared camera with enhanced image fusion capabilities.

There’s been a lot of buzz about fusion capabilities with infrared cameras. Our thinking on fusion is if it doesn’t offer you more than just putting a fixed Picture-in-Picture (PiP) thermal overlay “box” over your visible image, then it may be more useful not to have it at all.

Point #10: Buy an infrared camera with a wide temperature range.

Here’s an easy one. When you buy an infrared camera, be sure that the temperature range it operates in is sufficient with the temperatures of the targets you will be viewing.

Point #11: Buy an infrared camera with upgrade potential

This is a no-brainer for any product you buy. This author is always trying to be sure that what I buy has an upgrade path or some type of formal trade-in/trade-up program.

Point #12: Buy an infrared camera from a manufacturer with strong post-sale technical support and certified training.

If you are new to the field of infrared cameras, you will obviously want to think about customer service and technical support after you’ve purchased.

Download the complete 12 Things To Know Before Buying an Infrared Camera (pdf).

If you have any questions give us a call (760) 444-0032 or shoot us an email contact [@} texsoinstruments.com.

Source: Flir Thermal Imagers

Infrared Cameras have a variety of uses and applications. Here at Texso Instruments, we have a wide selection of thermal imaging cameras for beginners to seasoned professionals. We want to offer a few tips and tricks on getting the most out of your camera or thermometer.
 

Lens cleaning and camera maintenance are also extremely important factors. The body of the camera, cables and accessories can be cleaned simply by wiping with a soft cloth. If a stain exists, moisten the cloth with a mild detergent, followed by a dry soft cloth. Never use chemical products on the camera or any cables and accessories for it will lead to deterioration. When cleaning the lenses, first blow off loose dirt with a can of compressed air, and gently clean the lenses surface with a cotton ball, soft cloth, or kleenex. Keep in mind excessive cleaning can break down the coating.

Our selection of infrared cameras are from the best manufacturers who manufacture extremely high quality equipment. We are confident you will be extremely satisfied with your selection. Use these helpful hints to get the most out of your camera.

Rising energy costs are hitting American homes hard. The financial burden is only increasing, without any hope of declining. Now is an extremely important time to take all steps necessary to reduce the amount of energy used in the household. One way this can be accomplished is by using thermography. Thermography uses an infrared camera, also known as a thermal imager to capture two-dimensional representations of the surface temperatures of parts of buildings. These parts include roofs, walls, doors, windows and construction joints. These images will reveal temperatures or temperature differences that can contribute to wasting heated or cooled air. This waste results in extremely excessive energy costs. For this reason, using thermal cameras can be extremely valuable for energy inspections.

If you are involved in the energy inspection business, your business will increase dramatically by using thermal imagers. Paul Ellison owns an Inspection Service company in Phoenix, AZ and explains why he uses thermography for energy audits. He says thermal imaging allows for so many types of audits; he can use it for locating water penetration, finding air leaks in air-conditioning systems, air leaks in duct work, and pinpointing insulation deficits. Because wet areas heat and cool at different rates than dry areas, the imager is able to detect these areas. Not only will the thermal imagers identify and locate problems, but they can provide a visual representation that can be viewed by customers.

If you are in the energy inspection business, it is highly recommended to begin using thermal infrared cameras. If you are a home-owner, or even a business owner, getting an inspection done by a company who offers this service can lead to tremendous savings in home energy costs.