ARBON_Seerettungsdienst APP_STORY_ENGv2.

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 application
story
amplifiers. The light amplifier was not a
great success, Meyer recalls. We went out
for a rescue operation at night and tried
one of these light amplifying systems, but
searchlights from other rescue vessels and
the lights from buildings on the shore
constantly blinded the system. Then
Meyer discovered thermal imaging. We
had requested a demonstration of the FLIR
HM-307 XP+ handheld thermal imaging
camera, but the FLIR representative had
also brought along a FLIR M-Series thermal
imaging camera and as soon as I saw the
remarkable image quality it produces I was
immediately convinced.
Good investment
After using the FLIR M-Series for some
time Meyer has not regretted the purchase
one single moment. It was quite a big
investment for us, since we are almost
completely dependent on local sponsors
for our funding, but it was definitively worth
it. I use the FLIR thermal imaging camera
every time I set out at night, and sometimes
even during the day as well. Of course you
can also navigate using the radar, but with
the FLIR M-Series thermal imaging camera I
can actually see what is out there.
The FLIR M-Series thermal imaging camera
records electromagnetic radiation in the
infrared part of the spectrum and translates
that into a visible image. This means that
a thermal imaging camera can produce
crisp clear images even in the darkest
of nights and that it is not impeded by
the flash of other vessels searchlights,
Meyer explains. You can use the FLIR
M-Series thermal imaging camera and
the searchlight simultaneously, which is a
vast improvement to the light amplifying
system we tested.
Daytime applications
Due to the fact that the FLIR M-Series relies
on thermal contrast instead of color contrast
it provides excellent nighttime vision, but
The FLIR M-Series thermal imaging camera is mounted on top
of the bridge to provide a good range performance.
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Meyer was surprised to see the amount of detail in the thermal footage produced by the FLIR M-Series thermal imaging camera.
"As soon as I saw the remarkable image quality iI was immediately convinced."
Meyer also uses it during the day. There
are several reasons why normal vision can
be impeded during the day. Reflected
sunlight can blind you for instance, or light
fog can obstruct your vision. And in case
of fire the smoke can completely render
normal eyesight useless. Now all I have to
do is switch on the FLIR M-Series thermal
imaging camera and I can see straight
through smoke or light fog and ignore
blinding reflections on the water. Another
daytime application is spotting floating
rubble. In the aftermath of a thunderstorm
sometimes driftwood, like tree branches or
even whole trees, floats around in the lake,
carried there from the mountains by the
Rhine and other rivers. The FLIR M-Series
thermal imaging camera can be a great
help in spotting them, since the dark wood
is difficult to see against the background
of the dark water, while they show up very
clearly in the thermal image.
The ideal tool
Although SLRG Arbon is the first rescue
service in the lake to employ thermal
imaging it is only a matter of time until
others will follow suit, according to Meyer.
Thermal imaging is simply the ideal tool
for this type of application. I have no doubt
in my mind that other rescue societies will
pick up on that as well in the near future.
The FLIR M-Series' Joystick Control Unit is seamlessly
incorporated in the bridge.
The vessel on which the FLIR M-Series
thermal imaging camera has been installed
is the MS Sirius, a Linssen 372 SX Patrol
that has been built in Maasbracht, the
Netherlands. This 11.5 meters long and
3.6 meters wide vessel has been in service
since 1990 but only recently received
the addition of its FLIR M-Series thermal
imaging camera.
The FLIR M-Series Joystick Control Unit is
seamlessly incorporated in the bridge and
the live thermal footage is displayed on
a dedicated screen, giving the ships pilot
an excellent overview of the situation. The
FLIR M-Series produces thermal footage at
a resolution of 640 by 480 pixels, regardless
of lighting conditions and allows the user
to see when darkness, light fog or smoke
impede regular vision.
Choosing thermal imaging over radar
The other vessel of SLRG Arbon is the MS
Pollux II. This 6.8 meters long and 2.7 meters
wide MST 680 Workjet was built in 2004 in
Liverpool, United Kingdom. Currently it has
neither radar nor thermal imaging camera.
If forced to choose, Meyer would opt for
a thermal imaging camera, he explains.
Although radar is clearly very useful I would
say that in our case the vision enhancement
that a thermal imaging camera provides is
more important.
For more information about thermal imaging
cameras or about this application,
please contact:
Flir commercial systems B.V.
Charles Petitweg 21
4847 NW Breda - Netherlands
Phone : +31 (0) 765 79 41 94
Fax : +31 (0) 765 79 41 99
AS_0911_0046_EN
e-mail : flir@flir.com
www.flir.com
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