Addressing the challenges of thermal imaging for firefighting applications

Joseph Kostrzewa; William H. Meyer; George Poe; William A. Terre; Thomas M. Salapow; John Raimondi

doi:10.1117/12.497535

10 October 2003 Addressing the challenges of thermal imaging for firefighting applications

Joseph Kostrzewa, William H. Meyer, George Poe, William A. Terre, Thomas M. Salapow, John Raimondi

Proceedings Volume 5074, Infrared Technology and Applications XXIX; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.497535
Event: AeroSense 2003, 2003, Orlando, Florida, United States

Abstract

By providing visibility through smoke and absolute darkness, thermal imaging has the potential to radically improve the effectiveness and safety of the modern firefighter. Some of the roles of thermal imaging are assisting in detection of victims; navigating through dark, smoke-filled structures; detecting indications of imminent flash-over/roll-over; identifying and attacking the seat and extension of a fire; and surveying for lingering hot spots after a fire is nearly extinguished. In many respects, thermal imaging is ideally suited for these functions. However, firefighting applications present the infrared community some unique and challenging design constraints, not the least of which is an operating environment that is in some ways more harsh than most aerospace applications. While many previous papers have described the benefits of thermal imaging for firefighters, this paper describes several specific engineering challenges of this application. These include large ambient temperature range, rapidly changing scene dynamics, extreme demands on AGC, and large dynamic range requirements. This paper describes these and other challenges in detail and explains how they were addressed and overcome in the design of Evolution 5000, a state-of-the-art thermal imager designed and manufactured by Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) using Indigo System’s Omega miniature uncooled camera core.

Citation Download Citation

Joseph Kostrzewa, William H. Meyer, George Poe, William A. Terre, Thomas M. Salapow, and John Raimondi "Addressing the challenges of thermal imaging for firefighting applications", Proc. SPIE 5074, Infrared Technology and Applications XXIX, (10 October 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.497535

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