Enhancing security solutions through Thermal imaging

You probably can not think of a building, structure or facility that would not benefit from heightened security. Fail-proof security is a must in these days especially inn response to increasing criminal activity and terrorism, whether securing a local convenience store or protecting a nuclear power facility. Everything is a potential target in our day and age. Communities and public works, as well as civic infrastructure, continue to be susceptible and defenseless at the same time.

Just as the approach to security and safety has matured over time, security systems have also evolved significantly over the past couple of years. Fortunately, many of our communities are now proactively designing security devices as an attempt to stay several steps ahead of potential attacks, unvoiced and voiced.

At the moment, most facility video surveillance apparatus is designed to be effective during the hours of the day. The performance capabilities of such video surveillance systems are severely degraded by the darkness. Due to that fact, many of the organizations using this equipment depend solely on security lighting systems for supervision during the nighttime. Furthermore, even though security lighting has met with some success, buying and deploying an adequate amount of lighting can be costly, interfering with surrounding residential areas or even unreasonable.

Integrating conventional surveillance cameras with motion detectors and some type of night vision constitutes another common approach to nighttime surveillance. On the other hand, these systems by themselves do not have the advanced optics to supply security officials with the viewing range necessary in many events. In addition to that, in some regions (such as railways coastlines, and borders, to name a few) the technologies are not able to sense criminal activity in darkness or in poor weather conditions such as fog or rain, that also compromise standard visual abilities.

Thermal imaging stands out to an increasing number of security administrators due to all the reasons above. In attempt to comprehend precisely why thermal imaging is emerging as the top choice for security system installations, it is a good idea to review the features of some commonly used types of security solutions. Thermal imaging, day TV with lights, CCTV with infrared illuminations and image intensification represent the four most common types of these security solutions

The technology of Thermal Imaging

At the same time as traditional cameras require ambient lighting to be efficient, thermal imaging senses the self-emitted heat of an object and as a result requires no visible light to produce the footages. The produced pictures are normally in black and white, however, some thermal imaging cameras are beginning to supply color pictures, with hotter objects showing a white color and colder images appearing as dark, or the user may reverse this color configuration if he whishes to. The technology of thermal imaging basically makes people, moving vehicles and other heat-emitting objects appear to "shine" white against the darker, cooler environments.

Although it may be possible to "fool" other technologies by using camouflage to blend into the surroundings, it is not possible for security teams to overlook glowing intruders, even when they try to blend in with the surroundings. Due to the fact that thermal cameras detect heat -- rather than rely on visible light -- to generate images, enhanced security is assured 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in darkness and in light, even where a traditional camera and enhanced lighting may stop working.

Contrasting to other camera products, thermal imagers remain efficient over long ranges. Believe it or not these imagers can identify heat signatures from distances up to a mile away from their actual location. They are also able to see through smoke and fog on top of being able to see over long distances. And due to the fact that thermal imagers work night or day, rain, shine or fog, the cameras serve as a proactive, rather than a reactive, supervising device. Identifying doubtful activity can actually prevent an intrusion whereas conventional cameras serve as great devices for reporting the breach after a crime has actually taken place.

It is common knowledge that thermal imaging is a proven technology that has had success in an assortment of security events. On top of that, it supplies vision at night in situations where lighting is not wanted, however 24/7 surveillance is a vital need. Not to mention that thermal imaging cameras can also conduct surveillance over waterways, lakes and ports where water and lighting options are not possible. Active supervision is allowed by thermal imagers despite poor weather conditions which would challenge other solutions. On top of that, the cameras provide low maintenance demands for users based in distant or difficult areas along with low-cost operation over the life of the apparatus.

Due to all of these reasons mentioned above, thermal imaging cameras are increasingly becoming a welcome addition to the incorporated security industry. The experts of security and surveillance realize that nighttime violations of security are a noteworthy threat and the security solutions most widely used are not enough for viewing in darkness or conditions in which visibility is poor. Security experts can detect potential intruders at long ranges, identify a threat and proactively respond to it upon the utilization of thermal imaging technology.

Touchingly of Day TV with Lighting

The day television with lighting technology offers sufficient light to enable conventional cameras to watch for breaches. Despite the fact that the cost of each individual camera is relatively low, the magnitude of cameras and the number of lights that must be deployed to effectively monitor a property can be ample.

Unwanted attention can be attained by the light produced by these cameras, especially if the facility is located in a remote or residential location or along a coastline where lights actually serve as a guiding light. It is easy for intruders to pinpoint vulnerable areas and then breach the facility's security if some areas were lit while others were not.

Furthermore, electric lighting is considered imperative for parking lots and other frequently visited, controlled locations. On the other hand, lights are arbitrary due to the fact that they offer the same amount of illumination to intruders as they do to security experts. In addition to that, intruders know accurately where security is anticipated to be at its highest, and they likely will avoid those locations, thus making day TV and lighting ineffective for many types of passive facility surveillance.

Infrared Illumination for CCTV

If for any reason the day TV with lighting is determined to be an ineffective means of securing a property, security professionals must seek out a more technologically enhanced alternative. Cameras with Infrared illumination features, used in CCTV systems worldwide, are often a solution that experts recommend. These types of infrared cameras have viewing capability in the 0.4 to 1.1 um wavelength band, but usually mandate advanced in order to be able to sense images , which means that they need some illumination, which they get from Infrared detectors, to work in surroundings that are relatively dark. Diodes, IR lamps as well as lasers are only a few of the different types of technology that fall into the Infrared illumination category.

Due to their small size, inexpensiveness, and low power usage, Diodes have become a popular choice. Nevertheless, just like day TV, diodes are most efficient only when used over short ranges and significantly degrade in certain kinds of weather conditions.

On the other hand the IR lamp technology also supplies illumination over increased ranges, however, it is costly, notably larger than diodes, demands high levels of amperage and also is affected by weather conditions. Laser technology offers the greatest illumination distance of the three types and can see through the majority of weather events. Nevertheless, lasers are very large, costly and require a momentous source of power to function appropriately. Adding to that, lasers have a very narrow range of view, and misuse can lead to severe eye injuries. Due to all of these reasons, lasers conventionally have been restricted to use by highly-trained military experts.

These cameras measure the contrast in reflected light and reflected near IR regardless of the type of illumination present. The reflected energy relies on the color and sheen of objects in each appropriate range of vision. A person trying to be covert and avoid the camera's watchful eye can easily wear dark colors and avoid the use of shiny objects to limit the efficiency of the security device.

Naturally, the performance of a CCTV with IR largely depends on range just like all types of illumination. These cameras operate best at close distances (close to seventy five feet). The infrared illumination can take effect efficiently at that range. In contrast to that, CCTV with infrared illumination or day TV systems could demand enough lights or illuminators to brighten an entire coastline just to be able to see objects that are only a thousand feet away from them. Even if this solution was technically possible, it would still be cost prohibitive and nearly unfeasible to sustain.

Intensification of the picture

Another sophisticated type of illumination is Image intensification. It is certainly the most widely known of the night vision system that operates through amplifying the ambient light of an event's footage. This particular technology demands an artificial or natural illumination source to be efficient. Grainy, green images are the usual results of image intensification that are often seen in war coverage as well as on news shows.

The reliance on stray light sources represents the most common problem with image intensifiers.  Reflect on this arrangement: the sky is cloudy and a there is a power outage that is perhaps caused by a storm. The technology of image intensification is made virtually useless in conditions of total darkness, as would be the case in a dark structure.

The devices can be handicapped easily by Car headlights, powerful flashlights or other sources of bright light. Vulnerability to this up-and-coming effect makes these cameras efficient only on a marginal level. Invaders with any familiarity with the systems can use bright lights to cause a blooming effect that would shield them from the camera's eye momentarily. In addition, trespassers can also create a blooming effect to serve as a distraction or decoy and allow further intruders to infiltrate a property in a separate site.

The Predicted Potential

There is a wide variety of technologies available to security experts. Security managers need to do all that they can to prevent invasion, sabotage and attack especially due to the fact that new security threats are uncovered each day, with their threats grow more and more sophisticated.

Technical enhancements in the technology of thermal imaging (for instance: the use of color or increased range) are also are making its use as part of an overall surveillance solution increasingly accessible. As the endorsement of thermal imaging technology rises, it will continue to be incorporated to work with a host of security applications, including motion detectors, access control systems and dedicated applications. These enhancements, which include improved transparency, will also make the technology even more efficient for security needs.

The Security supervisors will be able to protect facilities and assets, rather than just react to an intrusion, theft or worse through including thermal imaging to an already well-developed security system. This augmented standard of security is beneficial to every property regardless of its size.

The reality of the matter is that the security technology is following a new trend that can also be thought of as a mission or goal. It basically revolves around being able to detect intrusions or assaults before they take place, this proactive approach is certainly more effective than having to deal with the consequences and aftermath of an intrusion which in most cases render you unable to perform any defensive act, all what you can do is start counting your loses and estimate the dollar amount of the damage. But through this new trend a lot can be saved. This is not to mention that by detecting potential threats and assaults before they take place, the security devices are actually paying for their price over and over again until they practically become free for their user. This alone is a terrific trait that every consumer should benefit from. Not to mention the tranquility and peace of mind that you and your family members will feel when you are in or out of the house upon the installment of this security system. There is no limit for where these security systems can be installed, they provide the security, protection and tranquility to every building or structure that they get deployed in. 

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