Infrared converted camera -- thermal imaging?

<p>Hi all,</p>

<p>I have a dumb question, but still one that should be asked before I pull the trigger on some purchase. We have (or have had) a bit of termite activity in our home. (Who doesn't, where we live?) We'd like to do some nondestructive investigation as to the extent of the activity, with an emphasis on differentiating between current and past activity. (We don't know the history on this home.) Apparently active termite infestations can be imaged with thermal cameras. The termites bring moisture with them, which makes the walls slightly moist over the impacted studs, and those wall surfaces become cooler. So with thermal imaging, termite infestation can look like this:</p>

<p>http://www.massinfrared.com/files/termite.jpg</p>

<p>... (visible light on left, infrared on right) These thermal imaging cameras are also useful for finding water leaks, air leaks, insulation problems, etc. Anyway, this would be useful to us for many reasons.</p>

<p>Now this is done with a camera I can't afford, made by FLIR and costing thousands. However, I'm wondering whether an infrared converted DSLR can do essentially the same thing, except perhaps without the color coding for temperature. Has anyone done this? Can someone show me an infrared image, taken with a converted DSLR, of a wall or roof? (I appreciate your help very much.)</p>

<p>Unfortunately not, Sarah. The detectors in cameras cut off at the band gap of Si which is around 1 micron (wavelength). There is essentially no thermal emission from sources near room temperature at 1 micron. In contrast, thermal imagers are usually most sensitive around 10 microns.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p>Thanks, Tom! That makes sense. Then I'll write that avenue off my list. I'll have to find another way... Damned little bugs!<br>

On a more personal note, I was wondering where you went. I miss your highly knowledgeable contributions to the forum. Great to see you still here!</p>

<p>Check "instrument rental" places -- they'll rent for less than the purchase price. You may need to rent in the name of a business, I don't know if they'll rent to individuals. "Test Equipment Rental"<br>

Alternatively, a god pest control company will probably have the gear...and get rid of the termites, too.</p>

 

<p>Tom is right, the wavelength sensitivities are not the same between IR thermal cameras and IR sensitive normal camera. I worked at one research centre that used the thermal camera for some of the things you mention. It may be worth it to hire someone for a few hours from heating and insulation firm or consultants that specialize in thermal IR. I guess the problem may be to differentiate between differing sources of the IR artefact that would be recorded.</p>

<p>I sympathize, as my all-wood coach shed occasional seasonal art gallery is slightly plagued with these critters, at least the type living north of the 49. Injecting termite poison has eliminated most but not all (the Queen termite may have a well isolated castle inside the beams).</p>

<p>Just saw Peter's note - agree.</p>

<p>Sarah,<br />Sure, an <em>imaging</em> camera for thermal IR is costly. But maybe you can meet your objective with a contactless thermometer (like a lightmeter, only at 10µm). Just the first one I found, does not cost thousands:<br>

http://www.amazon.com/Thermometer-AR550-Mini-Infrared/dp/B000MX5Y9C</p>

<p> </p>

+1 for the device Bernard mentioned. I

used one to find areas of poor

insulation. You need to get close, the

area sensed is one tenth the distance.

The laser may fool you into thinking

you are measuring a pinpoint.

<p>I know of no pest controller that can measure the extent of drywood termites by imaging alone. This may seem obvious but if there are droppings and continued droppings around a load bearing stud or beam, the only way to feel safe is to treat by tent fumigation. A nasty toxic stuff called Vikon.....geckoes do survive though:-)<br /> It is a royal pain in the arse, Sarah.but out here we live with that method every five to 7 years and get a contract for retreating. Ground termites are detected when colonies appear to eat a bait called Sentricon. Those little buggers are part of nature's necessary ways of recycling old forest wood. Wish they would go to my neighbor who collects old wood!...but they like me better. Personally, I would seek a good pest control outfit you trust. Tent fumigation is about a grand out here.....good luck Sarah. Drywood larvae work slowly so you got time to experiment...but on the other hand I have heard of wall collapses when nothing is done remedially. The other purposes you mention I have no idea of at all...I am really interested though and will follow your thread.</p>

<p>You should be able to find a professional thermographer in your area by searching the International Association of Certified Thermographers website.</p>

<p>http://iactthermography.org/locate_condition_monitoring.html</p>

<p>I used a rental like this to detect roof leaks in a gravel roof at our factory. (Works best when there is a large outdoor to indoor temperature differential (like this winter stretch)).</p>

<p><a href="http://www.atsrentals.com/flir-i7-thermal-imaging-camera-rental.html">http://www.atsrentals.com/flir-i7-thermal-imaging-camera-rental.html</a></p>

<p>Works well, but as mentioned, differentiating cold spots due to insulation gaps, moisture or wet wood/insulation due to bugs may take some practice.<br>

Jim M.</p>

 

<p>P.S. -</p>

<p>Apaprently, the 21st century bug hunter uses:</p>

<p>thermal imaging:<br>

<a href="http://www.rjmcontracting.com/pdf/2004-012_Bruni_FINAL.pdf">http://www.rjmcontracting.com/pdf/2004-012_Bruni_FINAL.pdf</a></p>

<p>and microwave radar:<br>

<a href="http://www.termatrac.com/learn-about13/termite-detection-radar-technology17">http://www.termatrac.com/learn-about13/termite-detection-radar-technology17</a></p>

<p>Who knew ... CSI/NCIS/SVU/etc. forensics to combat the 6 legged, maurading, stud/sill/beam chewers.</p>

<p>Thanks, guys!</p>

<p>Rental does sound like a possibility, as does hiring a pro. Thanks for the links! It would be great to find general areas of activity and to treat the ground around the foundation in those areas. (These are subterranean termites, not dry wood.) We wouldn't want to treat the whole foundation because we're in an ecologically sensitive area. Pouring 500 gal of pesticide into the ground only 100 ft from a body of water doesn't sound like a good idea. We'll definitely be treating with a bait (probably Sentricon, but there are other flavors too).</p>

<p>In addition to thermal imaging and radar (hadn't heard of the radar), there's also an acoustic detector that listens for chewing! Perhaps the next step is a radio-labeled bait!</p>

<p>Sadly, there's less available to detect powderpost beetles. We have those around here too, including perhaps in one area of our wood flooring. Oh boy!</p>

<p> </p>

<p>There are termite sniffer dogs (like bedbug sniffers) but I don't know how common they are. </p>

<p>Oh, I forgot, Bernard, I already have an IR thermometer. I thought of doing exactly what you suggested. However, it's not going to be easy. Perhaps I can use a scanning method to look for elevations in the delta-T as I sweep slowly across a wall. But I'm still going to be imaging with numbers. I'm a very numerical gal, but even so...</p>

<p>Michael, I suspect the termite sniffer dogs would be distracted by my cat, or vice versa! Too bad my cat doesn't help out. She spends 99% of her time curled up somewhere -- usually in my lap. :-)</p>

<p>Sarah, have you considered the FLIR ONE? It's an add-on, phone case style thingy for your smart phone. It doesn't have the resolving power of its bigger siblings, but it is certainly a lot cheaper ($349), and might just do the job for you.</p>

<p>Paul! Outstanding! :-) Now that's something I can afford! Thanks so much...</p>

<p>Hi Sarah - Thanks for the kind words. It's good to hear from you as well. I found myself spending too much time on here and decided to cut back, but then a website focusing on Photoshop approached me to become the moderator for the photography section of their forum, so I've been doing that for a year or so now.</p>

<p>Fortunately for me (and bad for them), it's not a terribly active forum, so I'm keeping my hand in without it becoming all-consuming.</p>

<p>Best regards & good luck with the little critters you are dealing with.</p>

<p>Tom</p>

<p> </p>

<p>You're welcome Sarah!</p>

<p>If you find difficulty in thermal imaging cameras, it's good to take assistance with experienced photographers. When coming to discussion regarding termites, termites can burrow through plaster and metal siding to get into the home where the delicious wooden cabinets, trim and siding are. Termites are of two types: Drywood and subterranean.Drywood burrow directly into the wood of a home and usually are found in warmer climates where there is no cold weather to kill them. Subterranean termites will burrow into the ground to avoid the weather in colder climates, and will travel above ground to get food – meaning they can create nests underneath houses and go up to the wood when they need food. Check for what type of termites you are facing trouble with and consult best termite control specialist.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.antitermite.net">How much termite treatment cost</a></p>

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