Infrared Thermal Imaging

This new up-to-date edition of the successful handbook and ready reference retains the proven concept of the first, covering basic and advanced methods and applications in infrared imaging from two leading expert authors in the field. All chapters have been completely revised and expanded and a new chapter has been added to reflect recent developments in the field and report on the progress made within the last decade. In addition there is now an even stronger focus on real-life examples, with 20% more case studies taken from science and industry. For ease of comprehension the text is backed by more than 590 images which include graphic visualizations and more than 300 infrared thermography figures. The latter include many new ones depicting, for example, spectacular views of phenomena in nature, sports, and daily life.

This new up-to-date edition of the successful handbook and ready reference retains the proven concept of the first, covering basic and advanced methods and applications in infrared imaging from two leading expert authors in the field. All chapters have been completely revised and expanded and a new chapter has been added to reflect recent developments in the field and report on the progress made within the last decade. In addition there is now an even stronger focus on real-life examples, with 20% more case studies taken from science and industry. For ease of comprehension the text is backed by more than 590 images which include graphic visualizations and more than 300 infrared thermography figures. The latter include many new ones depicting, for example, spectacular views of phenomena in nature, sports, and daily life.

\- Preface - List of Figures - List of Tables - List of Acronyms and Abbreviations - Preface - Introduction - Basics of Noncontact Thermal Measurement - Matching the Instrument to the Application - Instruments Overview - Using IR Sensing and Imaging Instruments - Introduction to Applications - Plant Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance - Buildings and Infrastructure - Materials Testing - Product and Process Monitoring Control - Night Vision, Security, and Surveillance - Life Sciences Thermography - Appendix A: Commercial Instrument Performance Characteristics - Appendix B: Manufacturers of IR Sensing and Imaging Instruments - Appendix C: Table of Generic Normal Emissivities of Materials - Appendix D: A Glossary of Terms for the Infrared Thermographer

This richly illustrated hands-on guide is designed for researchers, teachers and practitioners. The huge selection of examples taken from science, basic teaching of physics, practical applications in industry and a variety of other disciplines spanning the range from medicine to volcano research allows readers to pick those that come closest to their own individual task at hand. Following a look at the fundamentals of IR thermal imaging, properties of the imaging systems, as well as basic and advanced methods, the book goes on to discuss IR imaging applications in teaching, research and industry. Specific examples include thermography of buildings, microsystems and the rather new field of IR imaging of gases. Impartially written by expert authors in the field from a renowned applied science institution, who are in the unique position of having both experience in public and private research and in teaching, this comprehensive book can be used for teaching beginners in the field as well as providing further education to specialized staff, students and researchers.

Infrared Thermography (IRT) is commonly as a NDE tool to identify damages and provide remedial action. The fields of application are vast, such as, materials science, life sciences and applied engineering. This book offers a collection of ten chapters with three major sections - relating to application of infrared thermography to study problems in materials science, agriculture, veterinary and sports fields as well as in engineering applications. Both mathematical modeling and experimental aspects of IRT are evenly discussed in this book. It is our sincere hope that the book meets the requirements of researchers in the domain and inspires more researchers to study IRT.

The evolution of technological advances in infrared sensor technology, image processing, "smart" algorithms, knowledge-based databases, and their overall system integration has resulted in new methods of research and use in medical infrared imaging. The development of infrared cameras with focal plane arrays no longer requiring cooling, added a new dimension to this modality. Medical Infrared Imaging: Principles and Practices covers new ideas, concepts, and technologies along with historical background and clinical applications. The book begins by exploring worldwide advances in the medical applications of thermal imaging systems. It covers technology and hardware including detectors, detector materials, un-cooled focal plane arrays, high performance systems, camera characterization, electronics for on-chip image processing, optics, and cost-reduction designs. It then discusses the physiological basis of the thermal signature and its interpretation in a medical setting. The book also covers novel and emerging techniques, the complexities and importance of protocols for effective and reproducible results, storage and retrieval of thermal images, and ethical obligations. Of interest to both the medical and biomedical engineering communities, the book explores many opportunities for developing and conducting multidisciplinary research in many areas of medical infrared imaging. These range from clinical quantification to intelligent image processing for enhancement of the interpretation of images, and for further development of user-friendly high-resolution thermal cameras. These would enable the wide use of infrared imaging as a viable, noninvasive, low-cost, first-line detection modality.

Infrared thermography (IRT) is a non-contact, non-invasive methodology which allows for detection of thermal energy that is radiated from objects in the infrared band of the electromagnetic spectrum, for conversion of such energy into a visible image (such as a surface temperature map). This feature represents a great potential to be exploited in a vast variety of fields from aerospace to civil engineering, to medicine, to agriculture, etc. However, IRT is still not adequately enclosed in industrial instrumentation and there are still potential users who might benefit from the use of such a technique and who are not aware of their existence. This e-book conveys information about basic IRT theory, infrared detectors, signal digitalization and applications of infrared thermography in many fields such as medicine, foodstuff conservation, fluid-dynamics, architecture, anthropology, condition monitoring, non destructive testing and evaluation of materials and structures. The volume promotes an exchange of information between the academic world and industry, and shares methodologies which were independently developed and applied in specific disciplines.

In Infrared Thermography, the authors discuss the sources of uncertainty, including how to quantify these sources, associated with the use of thermal imagers. This book explains the common misunderstandings in the interpretation of temperature measurements, and provides a metrological evaluation of commercially available infrared cameras. It suggests how to best estimate the accuracy of thermal imaging instruments, whilst considering the level of accuracy attributed to measurements from these thermal imagers. Key features: Begins with an introduction to uncertainties and radiance terms before moving onto the issues surrounding thermal imaging. Deals with the basic issues of thermal imager measurements such as the law of heat exchange by radiation and emissivity. Describes a typical processing algorithm of the measurement path for an example infrared camera. Discusses measurement error analysis of a thermal imaging system. Considers the results of simulation research of thermography uncertainty. Includes an accompanying website which hosts MATLAB® code. Infrared Thermography is primarily aimed at quantitative thermographers, and manufacturers, vendors and users of thermal imagers. This book is also of interest to senior undergraduate and postgraduate students across a range of disciplines such as electrical, mechanical and civil engineering, computer science, and biomedicine.