"Thermography" is spelled with the following IPA phonetic transcription: /θɜːmˈɒɡrəfi/. The first syllable is pronounced with the voiced dental fricative "th" sound /ð/ followed by the vowel sound /ɜː/. The second syllable consists of the consonant sound /m/ followed by the vowel sound /ɒ/ and the final syllable starts with the voiceless velar fricative /g/ and ends with an unstressed vowel sound /ə/ and the consonant sound /f/ is added at the end.
Thermography is a technique used to create visual representations of temperature patterns on the surface of an object. It involves the use of an infrared camera or thermal imaging system to detect and measure the amount of infrared radiation emitted by an object. The captured data is then converted into a thermogram, which is a colored image representing variations in temperature.
This non-invasive method is commonly employed in various fields, including medicine, building diagnostics, electrical inspections, and industrial applications. In the medical field, thermography is used to assess blood flow, detect inflammation, and identify potential abnormalities in the body. It is particularly useful in detecting breast cancer at an early stage, as cancer cells tend to have an elevated temperature compared to healthy tissue.
In building diagnostics, thermography aids in detecting heat loss, air leakage, and insulation problems. It allows professionals to identify energy inefficiencies and areas of potential improvement for better energy conservation. In electrical inspections, thermography helps identify overheating components and potential electrical faults, which can prevent electrical fires and equipment failures.
In industrial settings, thermography assists in monitoring temperatures of machinery, identifying hotspots, and predicting potential equipment failures. It is also used to detect gas leaks, identify thermal abnormalities in piping systems, and ensure safe working conditions.
Overall, thermography provides valuable insights into temperature variations and patterns, enabling professionals in various fields to make informed decisions and take appropriate actions based on the gathered thermal data
The word thermography has Greek origins. It is derived from two Greek words: thermos, meaning hot or heat, and graphein, meaning to write or to record. So, combining these two elements, the term thermography can be understood as heat writing or heat recording.