Do you know how rescuers managed to find dozens of people alive in the rubble after the earthquake in Mexico City in 2017? Do you know how thousands of lives have been saved by detecting faults in buildings? How errors in production processes and electrical systems have been identified thus preventing disasters? That’s right: using thermography.
Thermography is a technique used to measure an object’s level of infrared radiation. This radiation translates as temperature. The energy radiated by said object is detected using a thermographic camera.
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These are 5 uses for thermography in the industrial field:
1. Building inspections
Thermography is really useful identifying anomalies in buildings, using thermographic cameras to detect weak structures, humid areas and any other fault that may result in damage.
2. Inspection of electrical systems
Thermography allows us to detect overheating of certain components typically found in electrical installations (like fuses) or malfunctioning connections without touching the objects, which can be extremely dangerous.
3. Inspection of mechanical equipment
One of the most frequent uses of thermography. This lets us monitor mechanical components and detect any overheating, any gas or water leaks or lack of lubrication in any piece.
4. Meteorology
Have you ever seen the weather section in the news? Storms, hurricanes and several other phenomena are studied with thermography, measuring the temperature of air currents which allows for forecasting.
5. Detecting people
After the devastating earthquakes that took place in Mexico in 2017, dozens of people ended up trapped in rubble. Using thermographic cameras rescuers managed to detect temperature changes and movement coming from the remaining of buildings.
