Thermal imaging has long held our attention in movies and TV. Whether used in a crime drama or as part of counter terrorism measures – its science fiction, action adventure uses know no bounds. However, in the real world, thermal imaging has many more uses – some that might surprise you!

1. Animal wellness checks

Pets can't tell us how they're feeling, luckily many of their ailments can be detected via infrared imaging. Things like inflammation, infections and fevers can be detected via infrared technology. It's a useful tool when diagnosing joint issues as well as the inflammation of these areas are more easily seen with infrared. These hot spots can help veterinarians pinpoint places to focus on when a diagnosis is needed.

2. House inspection and leak protection

Home ownership is a milestone in many people's lives. It's your own space to put together and maintain as you choose. It's not always obvious where things like leaks happen, whether with the plumbing, heat, or AC. Many plumbers now use infrared imaging to detect the base of a leak or indicators of a potential leak. This preventative tool can save the homeowner money on costly repairs down the road. It's also a great tool to help prove and ensure insurance claims are paid out as it is used to properly identify and diagnosis these potential problems, both before they start and when a crisis occurs. 

3. Automotive 

Cars are smarter than ever before. Whether its rear-view cameras, updatable firmware, or even self-driving capabilities, the cars of the future are here today. One such element of this new tech is the infrared imaging and what it can do for the modern automobile. A car's diagnostics system can tell you one thing, but an infrared camera can tell you the rest especially when what you're looking for are mechanical issues like overheating or leaks.

4. Cancer detection and other health benefits

This one might sound like science fiction but believe it or not thermal imaging been used more and more in modern medicine to detect things like deep vein thrombosis, circulatory disorders and infection. There are Thermal Imagers with fever detection functionality being actively used as preventative measure for the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thermal Imagers with fever detection functionality are currently being used as preventative measure for the Coronavirus outbreak. Thermal Imagers with fever detection functionality are currently being used as preventative measure for the Coronavirus outbreak.

It's even been known to help doctors spot the presence of breast cancer. And though that technology is still in its early stages it's sure to evolve as the technology does and could be the diagnosis tool of the future.

5. Chilled wine

This use might best be brought out at parties as a fun conversation starter. As infrared detects heat or the lack thereof pulling out the ole infrared imager to detect if the bottle of bubbly is chilled to perfection is an obvious party trick.

6. Birdwatching

The art of birding can be daunting and time consuming to say the least, it can also be all of these things with no payoff. In traditional birdwatching the observation of wildlife is often dependent on very specific environmental factors, with infrared imaging those factors – like right time of day, the volume of bird song – can be aided by detecting the birds heat signatures as they roost.

Optimum spot for relaxing
In the hit TV show "The Big Bang Theory" Sheldon has a very particular set of standards that lead him to sit in the same couch spot each and every time he is in the living room:

"In the winter that seat is close enough to the radiator to remain warm, and yet not so close as to cause perspiration. In the summer it's directly in the path of a cross breeze created by open windows there, and there. It faces the television at an angle that is neither direct, thus discouraging conversation, nor so far wide to create a parallax distortion." – Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory

Imagine if there were a tool that could definitively say that this position really was the most optimum? Enter thermal imagining.

7. Finding your way safely at night

It may not seem like the most practical way to find yourself in the dark, but infrared imaging can help see what emits heat even when the sun is down. So, if you're coming back to a campsite after using the restroom in the middle of the night, you need simply flip on the infrared and scan until you see the heat signatures coming from your camp. It could also be helpful when locating other lost campers and when evading pesky wildlife.

Thermal imaging can be very beneficial across a variety of industries. For more information on utilising thermal imaging in your workplace, contact the Testo team today.