How Infrared and Firefighting Work Together
There are many questions surrounding infrared light and thermal vision. There are many misunderstandings about what exactly it can do. Many people are under the impression that it is the same as night vision, and that it can do things such as see through walls. Its not x-ray vision! Infrared has been used for many practical uses. We have been able to channel this energy and light into technology that has many benefits in medical, security, military and firefighting fields, just to name a few.
One of the most useful inventions that uses infrared light is the Digital Thermal Camera. Digital thermal cameras can be used for many different purposes, including as valuable tools for firefighters, for obvious reasons. Digital thermal cameras are especially useful when human lives are at stake. In a scenario that illustrates how this is helpful, the most common kind of fires are house fires.
Most house fires are started as an accident. A towel on the stove catches fire. A faulty outlet sparks. A lamp falls over, and catches something on fire. Because these are accidents, it is common that there are people that are unaware it happened, until it is too late. The fire department gets called, and upon arrival there is very little to go on about where to start looking first.
Searching for someone while fighting a fire, and not being able to see through thick smoke can be very difficult, and all too often, by the time they reach the goal, it is too late. Infrared digital cameras make this easier by allowed the firefighters to see through the smoke and flames, and therefore they know exactly where to go and look. Keep in mind that this is just one in many very general examples of how this is useful.
Wondering exactly what it is and how it works? Infrared is a lightwave energy that works above the visible spectrum, . Most heat works by reflection. For example, the sun doesn't heat the air, it heats the earth, which reflects back, and by doing that, heats the air in between. Infrared cameras detect radiation that is emitted by all objects above absolute zero, and thermography helps the camera operator translate this information into an actual temperature reading.
How does this translate to infrared digital cameras? Using the special technology that is used for infrared digital cameras, you are able to view the heat patterns and see the object that is heated, instead of the standard viewing an object that is in your path of vision. Using the infrared digital camera, a firefighter is able to quickly and accurately locate an object or person that he or she is trying to reach. There are many, many useful inventions involving thermal heat, and infrared digital cameras are only the beginning.
by Jennifer Warta
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