For decades, thermal imaging has been used to detect air leakage sites in building envelopes. A common challenge for ground-based inspections is how to accurately image the of the upper floors of tall buildings. This presentation introduces a novel approach that utilizes drones equipped with thermal and RGB cameras to autonomously capture high-resolution imagery of a building envelope. Using advanced AI and computer vision, captured imagery is then analyzed and used to generate precise 3D maps indicating air leakage sites. We will demonstrate how this innovative approach improves inspection results, reduces inspection times, and improves safety while helping to promote sustainability in commercial real estate management.

The use of ultrasound technology in conducting electrical equipment inspections has quickly become the standard for many organizations. Advances in the technology, offers a whole new level of sophistication when it comes to scaling-up internal reliability and electrical safety efforts. This presentation will explore the use of Ultrasound in managing industrial electrical safety, along with offering some commentary on why investing in this area is critical. This presentation will also discuss what ultrasound technology is and how it is used to inspect electrical equipment such as transformers, switchgear, and substations. Innovations in Ultrasound technology are allowing maintenance technicians even more insights into electrical anomalies present in their equipment. We’ll share case study examples using spectrum analysis of recorded ultrasounds and images and will discuss to how to properly diagnose exactly what is happening.

Unlimited human and equipment resources do not exist in industry. So how do plant and maintenance managers decide on human and equipment resources? With today’s reliability technology offering advanced data analysis capability in both portable and permanently installed configurations, what is a good balance between using portable and permanently installed equipment? This presentation will discuss considerations in making these decisions including resource availability, asset criticality, and where to get the best ROI from portable vs permanently installed technology.

By integrating AI with thermal imaging technology, industries can automate the process of detecting anomalies in equipment, infrastructure, and processes. AI-driven systems analyze thermal data and can greatly aid human based assessments by expediting the speed from analysis to report. Fast Forward

Author Dusty Birge, Founder of Fast Forward will educate attendees on how AI can be implemented into an inspection workflow for inspectors. This session will also illustrate AI analyzing images and data sorting methodologies, while also indicating current limitations to machine learning methods.

For decades, the arsenal of predictive maintenance tools provided the capability to successfully identify anomalies and subsequently work with facility maintenance to schedule corrective action to improve upon or even eliminate the detected problems. As investments in the utilization of the PdM technologies – including thermography, oil analysis, ultrasound, vibration, and others – were made, facilities reported gains in productivity and profitability.

The users of these technologies, be they thermographers, vibration analysts or others (let’s call them the “PdM Whisperers”), developed expertise and professional skills with their preferred tools. Most of these specialized experts considered their skill set holistically valuable – i.e., infrared thermography is beneficial and intrinsically justifiable by the results that it yields. The PdM Whisperers weren’t wrong, but there’s more.

This purpose of this discussion is to take a short journey to stretch our collective perspective on how the valuable work of these PdM Whisperers also fits into a larger framework by supporting specific activities required within a comprehensive reliability program. The journey begins by examining the “roots” of PdM technologies.

There are two basic HVAC systems air side and water side. Air and water flow has a key factor as to how well the heat is removed. Infrared can be a crucial part of troubleshooting this factor since thermal imaging helps reveal the dynamic flow attributes as well as heat transfer of equipment. This presentation will cover how thermal may be applied to HVAC systems, along with the tools necessary for determining the root cause of detected anomalies..

The success of using infrared thermography to identify components in a mode of failure relates to how well we can judge that infrared image as abnormal. So, what do we use as our normality to determine the freak or anomaly? Is it just simple temperature comparisons and temperature standards or do we need a little more? Image interpretation is either correct or wrong. There is no gray area even if you used a gray palette for your image. We may find ourselves realizing that relying only upon a universal temperature standard to indicate a fault or failure condition or impact of a building substrate, mechanical equipment, or electrical component may provide a misjudgment of the actual condition and may not lead us to the cause. The criticality of the component as it relates to the entire system is a relevant consideration when tasked with prioritizing repairs. This presentation will examine some ideas to consider abnormality and help us become more effective infrared thermographers.

In this riveting presentation, we delve into the vital realm where thermography and cyber security intersect, focusing on practical strategies to fortify your Thermal Imaging or Home Inspector business against digital threats. We unveil the critical importance of integrating robust cyber security measures into your operations, offering actionable insights to safeguard sensitive data and ensure the integrity of your business infrastructure. Through a comprehensive exploration of best practices and risk mitigation techniques, we empower you to navigate the evolving cyber landscape with confidence and resilience. From encryption protocols to secure network configurations, we provide essential guidance tailored to the unique needs of small businesses in the thermography and home inspection sectors. Join us on this transformative journey as we equip you with the knowledge and tools to protect your business and thrive in an increasingly digital world.

Thermal imaging is a powerful tool for identifying a wide variety of latent defects in yachts and small craft. Under proper conditions, thermal imaging may be used to detect and visualize thermal patterns associated with conditions such as delamination, water intrusion, and osmotic blistering within the laminate layers of vessels. Thermal imaging may be used for condition assessment, condition monitoring, or quality assurance inspection of repairs. Similar to other thermographic inspections, this application requires more than a ‘point and shoot’ approach. Accurately diagnosing laminate failures from observed imagery requires specialized knowledge in marine structures and thermal imaging. This presentation will cover methods for creating temperature differentials for inspected components, inspection techniques, interpreting thermal imagery, and tools for verifying the root course of suspected conditions.

Wastewater treatment is an essential process that ensures our water supply remains safe and sustainable to protect public health. Thermography plays a vital role in the preventive maintenance and reliability of the machinery and equipment involved with the wastewater treatment process. The presentation will discuss the role and advantages of our regular thermography inspection program introduced some years ago for a large regional government organisation.

The presentation will outline:

• Planning, logistics and coordination involved in conducting the thermography surveys on electrical assets over a 5,233 sq kilometre area
• Examples of thermal faults identified during our surveys and the reporting process
• Lessons learned from our program and improvements that have been implemented to streamline the inspection program
• Results and outcomes of the annual thermography inspection program

Ground Faults in manufacturing plants play a key role in equipment breakdowns. Such faults can cause motor bearings to arc. Arcing causes the bearings to prematurely fail thereby shortening the life of the motor. Some ground faults, e.g. in induction furnaces or in pad mount transformers, are safety hazard for the workers. Thermography is a cost-effective tool in detecting such faults. Since the delta T for many ground faults is very small, they may be overlooked; however, an experienced thermographer will certainly be able to catch them. This presentation will cover the root cause of ground faults, tips and techniques for thermographically detecting them, along with the benefits of this unique application.

As thermal cameras have become smaller, more advanced, and affordable, a new class of solutions has dominated the landscape of fixed thermal imaging. This presentation will discuss applications of early fire detection, condition monitoring quality control.

We will also discuss the advent of sensors for vibration, and ultrasound and how the complete the solution of making the invisible visible.

This presentation will explore the use of Optical Gas Imaging (OGI) using drones in the oil and gas industry, focusing on the latest federal regulations impacting thermographers and companies. We will review various case studies from the field, examining how regulations are reshaping industry standards for equipment, inspections, and reporting. Attendees will gain an understanding of the challenges and opportunities for the application of OGI, ensuring compliance while maintaining operational efficiency and safety in a rapidly evolving landscape.

For over 60 years, airborne ultrasound has been widely used for condition-based monitoring. Recent advancements in instrumentation have created a whole new approach known as Acoustic Imaging which can be the perfect complement to traditional ultrasound and infrared thermography inspections. Although Acoustic Imaging has made airborne ultrasound inspections more efficient and effective, operators must still understand the physics and science behind the technology. This presentation will discuss the basics of ultrasound technology and the principles of airborne ultrasound inspection techniques. We will show examples where Acoustic Imaging can be used to detect compressed air and gas leaks and demonstrate how to use Acoustic Imaging to detect electrical faults such as corona, tracking, arcing, and partial discharge.

In recent years, there have been many advancements to improve the performance of personal protective equipment (PPE) designed for electrical hazard applications and arc flash protection in particular. Changes in the NPFA 70E Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace also have affected the applications of PPE and increased the types of PPE that are approved for use. This presentation will focus on improvements to PPE along with its proper cleaning, maintenance, and storage to ensure that it will perform as specified and maximize its life expectancy.

Thermal imaging is commonly used to detect latent moisture in commercial roofing systems. In order to ensure the accuracy of an infrared inspection, invasive testing is required to confirm the presence or absence of moisture within the subject roof. For many roofs it is possible to use noninvasive tools such as nuclear or capacitance gauges to complement infrared data thereby reducing the number of invasive test sites. This presentation will discuss the proper application and use of nuclear and capacitance gauges and how they may be integrated into infrared inspections of commercial roofing systems.

Choosing the right thermal camera lens goes beyond finding a comfortable Field of View (FOV); it is crucial for optimizing thermal imaging quality and accuracy. This presentation explores the challenges faced in thermal camera lens design and the latest technology breakthroughs shaping the industry. Attendees will gain insights into the complexities of lens selection, the impact of FOVs on image quality and Delta T calculations, and emerging trends driving innovation in thermal imaging.

Join us for an engaging exploration of Partial Discharge (PD), a condition that can lead to premature failure of medium and high voltage electrical equipment and cables. Over the past 40 years, detection methods like airborne Ultrasound, TEV, UHF, and HFCT have evolved significantly. This presentation will spotlight the latest advancements in online PD test instruments, emphasizing how features such as frequency lock elevate interpretation accuracy. Don’t miss this dynamic presentation which will provide valuable insights as we compare available detection methods and how they may complement your infrared inspections.

When using IR windows to perform routine thermographic inspections, thermographers need to consider the effects of Transmission rate of the IR optic when comparing the temperature data of two similar components (delta T analysis). Transmission and Emissivity compensation are very similar: Failure to properly compensate for either will lead to inaccurate data, which can lead to inaccurate conclusions, resulting in false positive or false negative reports.

Topics explored will include:
What are the various IR window optic materials?
What are the Transmission characteristics of those materials and what are their implications of Transmission rates?
What happens to Transmission characteristics as various optic materials age?

Digital marketing has become an essential tool for small businesses, including those in specialized fields such as infrared thermography. The rapid evolution of digital platforms and strategies offers new opportunities for small business owners to reach their target audience effectively and grow their customer base. This presentation will explore the latest digital marketing trends that small businesses in the infrared thermography industry can leverage to enhance their online presence and drive business growth.

This presentation showcases a compelling case study of a customer's experience renting an infrared camera for their testing project. Through real-world insights and outcomes, we explore how the customer successfully utilized rental equipment to meet their specific project requirements while leveraging the benefits associated with equipment rental. From initial equipment request to delivery and testing in the field, we will walk through the process of ensuring success in the field while using rental equipment. Attendees will gain valuable insight into the process and benefits of renting infrared cameras, making it an ideal solution for testing.

If you want to know what is going on within in a building, and you have a thermal imager, it helps to have a transient energy condition, or to create one. This paper discusses techniques and methodologies for accomplishing successful infrared surveying of buildings. Buildings can be divided into residential, commercial, institutional and industrial, and all four types of these buildings benefit from properly performed thermal infrared surveys for the purposes of commissioning, and when, or if a problem manifests itself.

Since its inception, image clarity has been of the utmost importance in thermography. Having a clear image not only helps to ensure accurate fault diagnosis but can also affect the accuracy of temperature measurements. There are many factors that affect the image clarity of a thermal imager, including but not limited to detectors, optics, and signal processing. This presentation will cover the physics behind imager optics, the importance of image clarity in qualitative imaging and temperature measurement, and how recent developments in image processing are poised to enhance thermal imager performance and revolutionize infrared thermography.

Since the beginning of infrared thermography, data-collection techniques and equipment have been evolving. Today, more than ever, a multi-camera use philosophy can improve an infrared thermography program's effectiveness. Understanding the successful deployment of this approach can provide optimal coverage and give organizations a "thermal eye" to discover even more thermal applications. This presentation will cover how to effectively evaluate how various resolution cameras can be used for both building applications and PdM, and even medicine and research applications. Many characteristics of a thermal camera should be considered, other than simply resolution, when weighing your options for the best possible deployment of a multi-camera approach, such as sensitivity, field of view, on-camera text, voice commenting, and more.

Refine your knowledge, whether you are new to infrared thermography or a seasoned certified thermographer. Build your confidence in deploying multiple resolution cameras as we all navigate this ever advancing multi-resolution, multi-manufacturer thermography camera world.