Advances in thermal imaging technology in the first responder arena

Francine Amon; Nelson Bryner

doi:10.1117/12.665573

16 May 2006 Advances in thermal imaging technology in the first responder arena

Francine Amon, Nelson Bryner

Proceedings Volume 6207, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XVII; 62070W (2006) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.665573
Event: Defense and Security Symposium, 2006, Orlando (Kissimmee), Florida, United States

Abstract

Thermal imaging cameras are rapidly becoming integral equipment for first responders for use in structure fires and other emergencies. Currently there are no standardized test methods or performance metrics available to the users and manufacturers of these instruments. The Building and Fire Research Laboratory at the National Institute of Standards and Technology has been conducting research that will provide a quantifiable physical and scientific basis upon which industry standards for imaging performance, testing protocols and reporting practices can be developed. To date, the components of this project have included full-scale fire testing, development of bench-scale testing facilities, computational fluid dynamics and radiation modeling, and performance metric evaluations. A workshop was held in which participants representing thermal imager users, manufacturers, researchers, government agencies, and standards developing organizations discussed the future of thermal imaging technology as it applies to first responders. Performance metrics for thermal and spatial resolution have been explored, with emphasis on the contrast transfer function, minimum resolvable temperature difference, and noise equivalent temperature difference. These performance metrics and associated test methods are currently being applied to conditions that simulate first responder scenarios. A system of thermal classifications was adopted to define the boundaries of testing conditions. A method of relating the performance of the imager's display screen to an image captured from the imager's composite video output is proposed. New testing instrumentation, in which optically simulated thermal scenes are projected onto the imager's sensor, is also under development.

Citation Download Citation

Francine Amon and Nelson Bryner "Advances in thermal imaging technology in the first responder arena", Proc. SPIE 6207, Infrared Imaging Systems: Design, Analysis, Modeling, and Testing XVII, 62070W (16 May 2006); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.665573

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
9 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Toxic industrial chemicals

Standards development

Thermography

Temperature metrology

Contrast transfer function

Minimum resolvable temperature difference

Image quality standards

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years