ITC InfraMation - = September 2007

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September=20 2007

Your intelligence = brief on infrared=20 thermography =

Volume 8, Issue = 9

In This=20 Issue:=20

Welcome

The Importance of Training in Infrared Automation = Systems

IR News you can Use

ITC Message Board Posts

Brainteaser of the Month

Last Month's Brainteaser

Course Calendars

About the ITC

Visit our Web = Store

Updated schedule = of=20 events

Fall = Special=20 Registration

Прочитай&= #1090;е этот=20 = информацио= 085;ный = бюллетень = на русском = языке.

Lesen = Sie dieses=20 Rundschreiben auf Deutsch.

Lea = este bolet=EDn de=20 noticias en espa=F1ol.

Lisez = cette circulaire=20 dans le fran=E7ais.

Leia = este boletim em=20 portugu=EAs.

Click=20 Here!

Hello {{user("firstname")}},

Infrared cameras have moved into the = manufacturing=20 automation field at an ever increasing rate. Their use in the = process and=20 control environment has become critical in manufacturing to = provide the=20 highest quality product while maintaining low production costs. = This=20 month's article reminds us that big mistakes can be made, if = proper IR=20 science and measurement techniques are not considered.

The InfraMation Thermography Conference is = only a=20 month away. InfraMation is the only dedicated infrared camera = application=20 venue where you will find:

69 papers and presentations
Color printed proceedings and CD
21 short courses (each with a color manual)
3 panel discussions
2 user group meetings
Commercial vision application sessions
Physics demonstrations for the non = scientist

Please join us for this outstanding = event.

As usual we have our Message board posts, = News items, and our = monthly Brainteaser for you to=20 solve.

As with all images in this = newsletter,=20 click an image to see a larger version.

Have a great September,

Gary Orlove,
Editor and=20 Publisher

The Importance=20 of Training in Infrared Automation=20 Systems

by Paul M. = Frisk, P.=20 Eng
Manager - ITC Canada

Infrared cameras have moved into = the=20 manufacturing automation field at an alarming rate. Their use in = the=20 process and control environment has become critical in = manufacturing to=20 provide the highest quality product while maintaining low = production=20 costs. The "Smart Sensor" infrared camera has the ability to not = only=20 monitor a process but make on board decisions based on a = temperature=20 criteria that has been uploaded or programmed onto it. Once a = criteria has=20 been met or failed, the smart sensor can provide control signals = to=20 external devices so that the appropriate actions can be taken. The = ability=20 to simply install, set-up and 'forget' the infrared camera has led = to the=20 assumption that the basic theory of operation of the units need = not be=20 known. It's unfortunate that many of the users of infrared devices = have=20 made and continue to make this assumption. It can not be denied = that the=20 infrared camera has become, in one sense, easier to use but only = in the=20 aspect that they are equipped with microprocessors to execute the=20 complicated equations that are required to convert the detected = infrared=20 energy to temperatures in an increasing shorter time. The downside = of this=20 is that it is now that much easier to make mistakes without = appropriate=20 understanding of the infrared phenomena. The main misconception = that=20 non-trained personnel of these devices have made is that they = believe that=20 the infrared camera 'sees' temperatures. This assumption has come = about=20 because the 'output' of the units is in deed temperature. However, = an=20 infrared device detects and displays an image of infrared energy = that is=20 being emitted, reflected and in some cases, transmitted = from/through=20 surfaces, and not their temperatures!

The only way a = successful=20 monitoring and control program can be implemented is to have the=20 appropriate personnel properly trained. It isn't the issue that = infrared=20 energy analysis is greatly difficult, it's the fact that infrared = light=20 can not be directly interpreted as we do with visible light. = Infrared=20 light possess the same properties as visual light (reflection, = refraction,=20 transmission and emissions) but the behavior of IR can be quite = different=20 from the visible. In order to =93extract=94 temperature from the = infrared=20 energy that the camera detects, one needs to first understand the=20 relationship between energy and temperature. This non-linear = relationship=20 and the associated physical material properties is what many = people have=20 failed to grasp and thus have attempted to make =93simplified=94 = assumptions=20 that lead to incorrect and sometimes, dangerous conclusions. = Coupled with=20 the understanding of the basic principles, the implementation = specific=20 parameters of the application must be known. This puts a large = onus on=20 infrared training establishments to ensure that the very basic = theories be=20 properly understood by its students. In one sense, it becomes the=20 organizations responsibility to expose the students to the = fundamentals=20 and their importance. This responsibility will become more = important in=20 the future as the infrared devices further separate the camera = user from=20 the 'physics' of the infrared=20 energy!

IR News you can=20 Use

Straight from the = World Wide Web,=20 here is what's going on in the world of infrared = thermography.

Medicine/veterinary

A Tool for Early Breast Cancer=20 Screening
PR-GB.com=20 (press release), Bulgaria - Sep 2,=20 2007
For women who are searching for early breast = cancer=20 detection, digital infrared thermal imaging (DITI) may be = of=20 interest. Historically, DITI fell out of ...
Deer tracking in the heat of=20 night
WBIR-TV, TN - Sep 1,=20 2007
They're using a new system: thermal = imaging to=20 track down deer in the heat of the night. "We're able to see = deer with=20 this camera we don't typically get to ...
Results flow to patient=20 scientists
Baltimore=20 Sun, United States - Aug 31,=20 2007
Scientists at the center began cultivating the = microbes=20 and used thermal imaging to determine where the warm, = polluted=20 water was coming out of the ground ...
Horse industry has a chance to regain = a measure=20 of faith
Robertson County=20 Times, TN - Aug 30, 2007
Such = meetings=20 produced a set of new rules that include: =95 Examinations of = horses with=20 a thermal imaging device meant to detect inflammation.=20 ...
Squirrels communicate with rattlesnakes using heated=20 tail
Mongabay.com -=20 Aug 13, 2007
"Using an infrared camera, = the=20 researchers filmed squirrel-rattlesnake and squirrel-gopher = snake=20 encounters in the laboratory," explained a statement from=20 ...

Buildings/energy/infrastructure

Higher-Tech Bridge Inspections
MIT Technology Review, MA - = Sep 4,=20 2007
Research has been done on advanced concepts and=20 laboratory techniques for nondestructive testing using, for = example,=20 radar, infrared thermography, ...
There's mortar caslte than meets the=20 eye
NW = Evening=20 Mail, UK - Aug 29, 2007
The = trust=92s=20 Morecambe Bay properties manager, Rowena Lord, said the problem = was=20 found using thermal imaging funded by a Barrow Borough = Council=20 grant and ...

Condition=20 monitoring

How good is your infrared program?
Reliable Plant Magazine, OK - = Sep=20 4, 2007
Let's discuss your infrared (IR) = thermography=20 program. Do you have a skeleton program that allows you to check = a box=20 on your goals and objectives sheet? ...
Boeing coining plan for composite parts
Chicago Tribune, United = States -=20 Sep 2, 2007
However, Airbus also recommends=20 thermography inspections, infrared testing that can = determine=20 whether water has seeped into the few sandwich-type composites=20 = ...

ITC Message Board = Posts=20

Here = is a selection=20 of recent new threads by IR Community members. Feel free to click = the=20 links, see the responses, and post your own response if you=20 like.

FL= IR=20 launches new T camera
240 X 320 high = performance Indigo=20 array
Thermal and Visual (1.3 MP) capability
Image = FUSION.....=20
Moisture detection in drywall/sheetrock
Recently, I observed what appeared to be a water = stain at the=20 joint between the ceiling and a wall separating the bedroom from = a=20 bathroom.

Upon shooting the spot with the BCAM, I was = surprised=20 to see the suspect areas surface warmer than the surrounding = area.=20 Normally, my shots have shown cooler areas...
Ne= ed=20 help deciding on the right camera
I am new to the = thermography=20 business and i am looking to purchase a the B-Cam due to the = fact that=20 it is much less expensive than other models. Would this be a = good=20 purchase for home inspections or should I look to get a better=20 model...
Po= nding=20 water on flat roofs
Summertime rains are an everyday = occurrence=20 in south Florida. Obviously this is when most businesses = consider=20 repairing roof leaks. Any suggestions on ways to provide an = accurate=20 report (ie. leaf blower to spread and dry moisture) are much=20 appreciated.
Em= issivity=20 problem
I have a little = problem to get a=20 temp. on 2 similar materials.
Is this possible that I am = incapable=20 to have the temperature of a material? I used the technique of = electric=20 tape and all has well worked on the other materials except two. = Here's=20 one of the two IR images and real pictures.
Re= bar=20 in Concrete
Greetings I am rather new to infrared tech. I = currently manage a construction materials test lab in Eastern = Ohio. I=20 work with various materials such as soils, concrete, asphalt,=20 aggregates. Many times in my line of work, when the "you know = what" hits=20 the fan with concrete construction I am required to go out and = drill a=20 core from a bridge deck, pier, roadway, tunnel, etc. Many times = it is=20 important to not drill into the rebar or post tensioning cables = in the=20 structure..

And of course if YOU have a question or want = to start=20 a discussion on a topic, we would love to hear from you. Just post = a new=20 thread on a mes= sage=20 board.

= Brainteaser of the = Month =20

Here is = this month's=20 brainteaser. Readers who email us the correct identification are = entered=20 into a drawing to win a prize. Please put "Brainteaser" as = the=20 subject of the message.

Click=20 here to email your guess

Do you have an interesting image = that you think=20 would challenge other thermographers? If so please email me your image = (preferably=20 in native .img, .jpg, .tif, .tgw, or .tmw format) with an = accompanying=20 visible photo and explanation. If your image is used, you receive = a gift=20 as = well.

=20 Last Month's Brainteaser

Last=20 month's brainteaser is an image of a leak of nitrogen gas at a = cryogenic=20 installation. Fifteen readers got this right out of 32 guesses. =

Thanks to Ton van = den Elzen=20 from Akzo Nobel Oss, Netherlands for sending this in and = congratulations=20 to our winner Jim Jennings from the Canadian Academy of Building = Sciences=20 for his correct guess. They both get the revered ITC low = emissivity coffee=20 mug.

Course = Calendars =20

Click the links=20 below to see our latest course schedules (in local = language).

Americas

Eurasia

Deutschland

France

Italia

United=20 = Kingdom

About = the=20 Infrared Training Center =20

The Infrared Training Center offers training and = certification in=20 all aspects of infrared thermography use. Our world-class training = headquarters are located near Boston, Massachusetts, USA and = Stockholm,=20 Sweden and have the world's most extensive hands on laboratories = for=20 infrared applications. In addition, we have training centers = around the=20 world. Please join us in exploring the fascinating world of the = infrared!=20

Your comments and suggestions about this newsletter are = welcomed=20 and encouraged. If you have an interesting application or case = study to=20 share, we encourage you to submit it for publication. Published = articles earn credit towards IR = recertification.

Please e-mail Gary = Orlove or=20 send regular mail to the Americas office.

Visit our website:

ITC Americas, = BOSTON

25 Esquire Road
N. Billerica, MA 01862, = USA

Tel: +1-978-901-8405
Toll free:=20 = +1-866-TRAINIR
&= nbsp; =20 (866-872-4647)
Fax: +1.978-901-8832
E-mail: mailto:info_us@infraredtraining.com

ITC Eurasia, = SWEDEN

Rinkebyv=E4gen 19
SE-182 11 Danderyd, = Sweden

Tel: +46 (0) 8 753 25 00
Fax: +46 (0) 8 753 26 = 01
E-mail:=20 mailto:itc@flir.se

THIS DOCUMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL = PURPOSES ONLY.=20 INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' WITHOUT = WARRANTY=20 OF ANY KIND. The user assumes the entire risk as to the accuracy = and the=20 use of this document. The Infrared Training Center newsletter may = be=20 copied and distributed subject to the following conditions: 1. All = text=20 and images must be copied without modification and all pages must = be=20 included; 2. All copies must contain the Infrared Training Center=20 copyright notice and any other notices provided therein;
3. = This=20 document may not be distributed for profit

=A92007 Infrared Training Center - All rights=20 reserved

Privacy=20 Statement: We're happy to have you on our list, and since we = want to=20 keep you all to ourselves, we never share your e-mail address with = anyone.=20 Period.

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