Thermal Bi-Spectrum Cameras: How They Work and Where to Use Them

A standard camera sees light. A thermal camera sees heat. A bi-spectrum camera combines both in one housing, so operators get a temperature map and a normal image of the same scene.

How thermal imaging works

Every object emits infrared radiation in proportion to its temperature. A thermal sensor (microbolometer) measures this radiation and turns it into an image. It needs no light at all, works in total darkness and sees through light smoke and haze.

Why bi-spectrum?

Thermal images alone can be hard to interpret. Pairing them with a visible camera lets operators:

• See exactly which motor, cable or valve is hot.
• Identify people and vehicles in colour when lighting allows.
• Use temperature alarms with visual verification to cut false alarms.

Top applications

Oil, gas and petrochemical

Monitor pumps, compressors, flanges and storage tanks for abnormal heat before failure. See our oil & gas solution.

Electrical substations

Spot overheating transformers, breakers and connections, a leading cause of outages.

Warehouses and recycling

Detect hot spots in stored materials early to prevent fires.

Perimeter security

Detect intruders at night over long distances, regardless of lighting.

Data centers

Track rack and cable temperatures.

What to look for

• Temperature accuracy: the Navijin ICB-N3785 measures temperature in real time with up to 0.3 °C accuracy.
• Thermal resolution and lens, matched to the target distance.
• Alarm rules: area, line and point temperature thresholds.
• Environmental rating for outdoor and industrial sites.
• NVR support for recording both streams. Navijin smart NVRs support thermal cameras.

Design tips

1. Thermal cameras measure surfaces. They cannot see through glass or water.
2. Shiny metal reflects heat, so set emissivity correctly for accurate readings.
3. Position the camera so the target fills enough pixels for measurement.

Want to add thermal monitoring to your site? Explore Navijin video surveillance.