There are mixed views on the merits of thermal imaging cameras. During a recent ASIS advanced technology workshop in LA, Steve Surfaro of Panasonic USA urged security managers not to invest in thermal imaging (TI) technology if they didn’t really need it, as a conventional camera mounted with an active IR illuminator would give better results. This is certainly the case for close-up person identification.Independent consultant Severin Sorensen, however, remarked that the cost of TI cameras had dropped so dramatically that they are now a viable solution, especially for long distance applications, or for looking out beyond a perimeter where no lighting, IR or otherwise, is available or desirable. This has certainly been the experience at Copenhagen Airport, where TI cameras are used to monitor for runway intrusions at distances in excess of 1.5km. The full story on the Copenhagen experience can be found at: http://www.security-int.com/categories/thermal-imaging-cameras/thermal-imaging-cameras.asp
