Which Cameras Should You Use In Your Thermal Surveillance System?

By Author: Sarah Addyson
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3 Types of thermal Imaging Security Cameras from Which You Can Choose! 

Due to the rapid advancement of technology, the best thermal surveillance system can be used from a very long distance. But that is not the only standard for a top-notch thermal camera. The clarity of the image as well as the accuracy are also important factors. There are three types of thermal imaging security camera technologies. Each one of them has different proprieties, and it can be used for specific applications. 
 
•    Uncooled thermal. This type of camera is used for mid-range applications. It has the lowest specifications, but the price is also much lower than the other versions. It is best used for applications that do not require long range surveillance. It has the highest performance in perimeter security, for example, a prison, or similar cases. You can also find these types of cameras in the oil and gas industry or as portable surveillance used by the military. In both cases, the cameras are used to detect any approaching dangers. 

•    Cooled thermal. It is the most advanced thermal technology. Cameras ...
... that use it can detect a human from a very long distance. The detection range can reach more than 10 km for humans and over 15 km for vehicles. One of its best uses is at border security because it can detect anyone that tries to pass illegally long before he even comes close to the border. But you can also use this type of camera in other applications that require long-range detection. For example, the military uses these cameras to keep enemy bases under surveillance. Due to its massive range, it is almost impossible for the enemies to find the cameras. The military can make use of the information gathered through the camera and ensure that they win as fast and easy as possible.

•    Advanced uncooled thermal. This technology was created to bridge the gap between the two. Cameras that are using it can reach the same specifications as those that use the cooled thermal technology. It is still not at the same level, but the differences are not very big. The advantage of this technology is that it requires a lot less maintenance. So, the lifetime cost of these cameras will be much lower than those that use the other type of technology. 

What is the purpose of your thermal surveillance system? 
 
In the past, normal surveillance was based solely on white light cameras. But the effectiveness of these cameras will drop to almost 0 during low light or no visibility periods. For example, during the nighttime, or during challenging weather situations, a normal camera will not be able to keep the surveillance going. One of the solutions to this problem is a https://silentsentinel.com/ thermal surveillance system . There are 3 purposes that this type of system can achieve. 
 
•    Night surveillance. As you may already know, thermal cameras do not need a white light to be able to keep the surveillance going. They are based on heat emanation. So, they can film even if there is no light in their surroundings. For these systems, there is no difference between day and night. The surveillance can go on 24 hours/day. Be it for defense or for attack purposes, you can always be the most prepared because of the ability of these cameras to gather information. 

•    Challenging weather surveillance. Another big problem that has created great difficulties for surveillance systems is the weather conditions that reduce visibility. Fortunately, unlike white light cameras, which can’t penetrate through fog or smoke, a thermal imaging camera has these abilities, and it can detect any source of heat from a very long distance. The effectiveness of this ability can be seen as more prominent in maritime applications where the weather can become very challenging very fast. 

•    Long-distance detection. This function is very effective in military applications. Imagine the difference in seeing the enemy in the night time from a distance bigger than 10 km and almost double that if the enemy uses vehicles. Your base will have enough time to prepare properly and implement a defense strategy that is based on the information gathered by the surveillance system. 
 
Which Thermal Imaging Security Camera Models Are the Best on the Market? 
  
Each type of https://silentsentinel.com/solutions/thermal-imaging-camera-options/ thermal imaging security camera  has different models from which you can choose from. And even the same model has many options from which you can choose. For example, the lenses have many options from which you can choose. So, which model is the best on the market for each type of thermal camera? 
 
•    The best uncooled camera. As mentioned above, it depends on the applications that you want the camera for. Some cameras are very good for mid-range detection, but they can fail at low range detection. So, the most important factor are the requirements that you have for the camera. For low range usage, you may want the Oculus scout cameras, as for mid-range, you should use the Osiris platform because it is compatible with a large number of technologies. 

•    The best cooled thermal camera. Most of the time, you will want to use the cooled technologies for applications where you need heat detection at a very long distance. For this type of camera, the best model on the market is the Jaeger searcher camera. Unlike its competitors, which have zoom lenses for up to 300mm, it has triple that. This model uses a 900mm for zoom purposes. 

•    The best advanced uncooled camera. Because this technology tries to replace the cooled thermal one, it mainly focuses on long-range applications. The Jaegar search LR is the best model that you can find, not only because it has the best range for this type of camera. But this model can also include a 4k ultra low light camera. This will ensure that the camera will be able to keep up the surveillance under almost any circumstance.