Security Camera with Thermal Technology

## What is thermal technology?

Thermal technology is a type of imaging that uses infrared radiation to detect the temperature of objects and create a visual representation of the heat patterns. Thermal cameras can see in the dark, through smoke, fog, dust, and other obscurants. They can also measure the temperature of objects and detect anomalies or changes in heat.

## Why use thermal technology for security cameras?

Thermal technology can enhance the performance and capabilities of security cameras in various ways. Some of the benefits of using thermal technology for security cameras are:

- Improved detection: Thermal cameras can detect intruders, vehicles, animals, and other objects that emit heat, even in low-light or zero-light conditions. They can also cover a larger area than conventional cameras and reduce false alarms caused by shadows, reflections, or movements of irrelevant objects.

- Enhanced identification: Thermal cameras can provide additional information about the detected objects, such as their size, shape, direction, speed, and temperature. They can also integrate with other technologies, such as analytics, facial recognition, or license plate recognition, to provide more accurate identification and verification.

- Increased safety: Thermal cameras can help prevent accidents, fires, or explosions by detecting overheating equipment, electrical faults, gas leaks, or flammable materials. They can also alert the authorities or trigger alarms in case of emergencies.

- Reduced costs: Thermal cameras can save money by reducing the need for additional lighting, power consumption, maintenance, or manpower. They can also work with existing infrastructure and systems and provide a higher return on investment.

## How to choose a thermal camera for security purposes?

There are many factors to consider when choosing a thermal camera for security purposes. Some of the main factors are:

- Resolution: The resolution of a thermal camera determines how clear and detailed the image is. Higher resolution means better image quality and more pixels per object. However, higher resolution also means higher cost and lower frame rate. The resolution of a thermal camera is measured in pixels or detector elements (also called microbolometers).

- Sensitivity: The sensitivity of a thermal camera measures how well it can detect small differences in temperature. Higher sensitivity means better contrast and more accurate temperature measurement. However, higher sensitivity also means more noise and lower dynamic range. The sensitivity of a thermal camera is measured in millikelvins (mK) or noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD).

- Field of view: The field of view (FOV) of a thermal camera determines how wide or narrow the image is. Wider FOV means more coverage and less blind spots. However, wider FOV also means lower magnification and less detail. The FOV of a thermal camera is measured in degrees (°) or milliradians (mrad).

- Lens: The lens of a thermal camera affects the FOV, magnification, focus, and image quality. Different lenses have different focal lengths, apertures, materials, coatings, and features. The lens of a thermal camera is usually fixed or motorized (also called zoom).

- Frame rate: The frame rate of a thermal camera measures how fast it can capture and display images. Higher frame rate means smoother motion and better video quality. However, higher frame rate also means higher bandwidth and storage requirements. The frame rate of a thermal camera is measured in frames per second (fps) or hertz (Hz).

These are some of the main factors to consider when choosing a thermal camera for security purposes. However, there are also other factors to consider depending on the specific application and environment. For example:

- Weather resistance: The weather resistance of a thermal camera measures how well it can withstand harsh weather conditions such as rain, snow, wind, dust, humidity, or extreme temperatures. Weather resistance is usually indicated by an ingress protection (IP) rating or an environmental protection (EP) rating.

- Power supply: The power supply of a thermal camera determines how it is powered and how long it can operate. Power supply options include batteries, solar panels, power over ethernet (PoE), or external power sources.

- Connectivity: The connectivity of a thermal camera determines how it communicates with other devices or systems. Connectivity options include wired or wireless networks such as ethernet (LAN), Wi-Fi (WLAN), cellular (4G/5G), Bluetooth (BT), radio frequency (RF), or optical fiber.

- Storage: The storage of a thermal camera determines how it stores the captured images or videos. Storage options include internal memory cards (SD/SDHC/SDXC), external hard drives (HDD/SSD), cloud services (AWS/Azure/Google), or network video recorders (NVR).

These are some examples of factors to consider when choosing a thermal camera for security purposes. However, there may be other factors to consider depending on the specific application and environment. Therefore, it is important to consult with a professional or an expert before making a final decision.