How do you preserve some of the finest creations of mankind? Simple: use a thermal imaging camera.
Italy, which is extremely well known for being one of the most cultural places in the entire world, is home also to some extremely famous architecture. Every year thousands of tourists flock to see it, but behind the scenes, there is a chance that this stunning architecture may be experiencing problems.
In order to prevent this, a firm based in Italy is using a FLIR thermal imaging camera to analyse historical building. By using the camera, the firm is able to assess the amount of damage present within buildings, as factors such as water damage, cracks and other defects can affect the structural integrity of the building.
Thermal cameras are perfect for this job because they use non-invasive technology. This basically means buildings can be assessed without having to take them apart to do so; the thermal camera used is able to detect heat being distributed around the building, allowing users to clearly see where heat might be lost, or where elements such as water have begun to damage the structure.
Thermal cameras see the world differently to human eyes – by using complex technology, the thermal camera is able to detect heat distributed in the infrared spectrum, which is what is displayed on the thermal image. All matter actually gives out infrared radiation as a result of the effects of temperature, and different levels of heat are represented differently when displayed as a thermal image.
The thermal surveyors are also using the thermal camera to assess art as well as buildings. Since some of the art on display is delicate, the presence of airflows around the object must be kept in check. By use of a thermal imaging camera, surveyors are able to detect these airflows and take steps to regulate the temperature around the valuable piece of art.
