Today’s modern thermographic cameras are very portable and relatively easy to operate. The skill in the science of thermography lies in the ability to understand what you are seeing and interpret correctly.

Thermography can be used for a multitude of imaging opportunities. Where there is likely to be a heat difference or where an object makes or uses heat then thermography can be used to assess. Heat can also be a means by which analysis of an inert object can be assessed by its thermal performance properties. The source of the heat will normally be solar (the sun) or it can be derived by other means.

Thermal cameras are today easily available and simple to operate. They are available in varying degrees of capability and complexity. Think in terms of a today’s digital cameras that are point-and-shoot. Thermal cameras come in a wide variety of capabilities and options. Simple entry level cameras start at around $3,000 and can range all the way to many hundereds of thousands depending on capabilities.

Thermal analysis can be carried out directly from the camera during observations. However to make a greater determination of the captured images that will normally be assessed on a computer later after capture. Images are captured on a thermal camera on memory devices that temporailly store these images. The images are transfered to a computer with appropriate software for detailed analysis and report generation. The thermal report is the output of a thermographic examination.