This document proposes creating a virtual association for thermographers online using social networking. It discusses the goals of establishing standards for thermography practices, training, certification and equipment. An online association could complement existing conferences by bringing thermographers together internationally at low cost. It suggests starting with a core group on sites like LinkedIn and growing over time, possibly into a registered non-profit organization. Members could include individuals, corporations, academic institutions and students to foster industry growth through collaboration.

1. A model for a virtual
association of thermographers
By
G. Raymond Peacock
MeasurementMedia Division
Temperatures.com, Inc.
Southampton PA USA
Web: www.temperatures.com
Email: rpeacock@temperatures.com

2. • Introduction & Background
• What Goals, Mission?
• Why Create One Online?
• What’s a Social Network?
• How Could it be Started?
• When and Who?
Presentation Plan

3. Last Year – ThermoSense XXX
– “Do infrared thermographers need a
professional organization”, GR Peacock,
– “Certification of Thermographers”, J Snell,
– “International Standards pertaining to
Thermography Practices, Training and
Certification”, L West Akerblom
INTRO & BACKGROUND

4. Social Networking & Open Source Web
resources now enable us to online:
• Create a worldwide IR Association,
• Improve Thermographer certifications,
• Grow thermography as a profession,
• And much more
New Web Tech

5. Beyond open IR forums now are free
online info databases & educational
resources
New Infrared Web Goodies

6. ITC Online Camera Courses

7. Infraspection’s Web Learning

8. Fluke’s Online Training

9. Webinars by Snell IR

10. Free Emissivity Resources

11. Apps at www.IRWeb.INFO

12. IRTalk by Snell IR

13. • Social Networking Communities are
today’s Web phenomena
• Could offer a way to create a Virtual
Professional Association of (and for)
Infrared Thermographers…
– But, First……Why?
Web Social Networks

14. • Civilian & Scientific Uses: Backbone of the
Infrared Imaging & Measurement Industry
After Defense
• No Single Organization or Application
Works on Industry Behalf; It “Happens”
• Needs Means to Foster Industry Growth &
Develop Common, Worldwide Standards
Why An Association?

15. • Standards for Thermography Practices
– NDT – Maintenance – Buildings – More…
• Standards for Training Curricula
– Who vets or reviews the trainers?
• Individual Certification & Continuing Ed.
– ISO has merit & more
• Equipment & Calibration Standards
• Professional Ethics… and more
What Standards?

16. “To promote the development of Infrared
Imaging, Infrared Temperature
Measurement and Infrared Vision
Technologies, standards and practices for
individual thermographers to the
betterment of mankind”
Mission?

17. Establish uniform standards and practices
for Thermographer educational programs
in accord with established best practices
around the world and work towards
unification of disparate programs.
Six Goals(?) Goal 1.

18. Develop, unify and promote the use of
standard practices in the many uses of
infrared thermography and measurement
and to encourage a growth in the
certification of Thermographers and
Metrologists in the many sub-disciplines of
infrared measurement and imaging,
Goal 2

19. Development of a universally recognized
Professional Thermographer certification
akin to Professional Engineer or Certified
Control Systems Specialist.
Goal 3

20. Develop, unify and promote the uses of
standard practices for the performance
nomenclature and characterization of
Infrared Thermographic and Temperature
Measurement equipment in concert with
the many international scientific &
standards groups (ASTM, ISO etc)
Goal 4

21. Establish consistent guidelines for the
traceable calibration and preventive
maintenance of Infrared Measurement &
Imaging Equipment
Goal 5

22. Institute industry awareness and
development of additional resources as
may be needed to foster the growth of the
industry and its members
Goal 6

23. • How to finance? – Individual Dues
• Who would organize and operate the
association? – Volunteers initially
• How could an association be structured? –
Simply, online at the beginning…
• Would it complete with ThermoSense &
others? - No, complement instead
• When could it be started? – Almost any
time once a core group forms
The “Mechanics” - Ideas

24. • Online Social network groups already
facilitate international communication &
collaboration- expect more in the future
• Effective way to bring groups of individuals
with similar interests together quickly &
easily,
• Very convenient,very low cost
Why an Online Association?

25. • Familiar Web names like MySpace &
facebook
• Also Horseland.com, LibraryThing.com,
Ravelry.com and
• Linkedin.com
What is a Social Network?

26. Linkedin.com

27. My Groups on Linkedin

28. Each With Separate Focus
–NDT
–Buildings
–Electrical Inspection Safety
–Home Inspections
They are NOT an Association!
Four Linkedin IR Groups

29. • When Flir, Mikron, Infraspection, Stockton,
or Snell, Hartford Steam Boiler, or Chubb
or EPRI, or ASNT started a group, they
exclude others automatically…
• That’s the way until now!
Online Options

30. • In 2005 ISPoT Appealed to
Individuals
• Lacked a Growth Plan,
• Was Exclusive of Key Industry
Stakeholders
• Effectively Folded Last Year
ISPoT Experience

31. • LinkedIn.com shows that a core
group can organize a website like
other Social Networks
• With a core of volunteers we can
develop a plan
• You can start now by participating in
discussions at
www.iThermographer.INFO
Start by Acting Together

32. • International Thermography
Association (ITA),
• Discussed at last year’s
ThermoSense Conference
Perhaps ITA by 2010?

33. • INDIVIDUALS: Engineers, Scientists
& Experienced Thermographers
• CORPORATE: (See Slide)
• INSTITUTIONAL: Government,
Academics
• NEW PROFESSIONALS: Newbies
• STUDENTS
Member Types (?)

34. Technicians, engineers, materials managers,
technology managers, and other professionals
in the field of Thermography.
Trained in Infrared Thermography or have
graduated with an engineering or science
degree and are capable of passing at least the
Level 1 Thermographer exam as offered by
Infraspection, Snell Infrared or The Infrared
Training Center.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS

35. Corporations or other business organizations that
manufacture, sell, or service thermal radiation
instrumentation or have a business-related
activity involved with it.
Corporate members designate a primary, voting
representative and a specified number of
"secondary" representatives to receive full ITA
membership benefits.
All corporate employees are eligible to serve or
hold leadership positions on ITA technical
committees and any national technical advisory
groups administered by ITA.
CORPORATE MEMBERS

36. Government employees, scientific,
academic, philanthropic, and other non-
profit organizations with an interest or
involvement in thermal radiation.
Institutional members choose their level of
membership by selecting anywhere from
three to ten representatives
All institutional representatives receive full
benefits of ITA membership and more.
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS

37. Trainees who have worked in the infrared
technology field for 5 years or less.
NEW PROFESSIONALS

38. Full-time undergraduate or graduate
students currently enrolled in a a college
or graduate level technology educational
program (at least 12 hours).
STUDENT MEMBERS

39. An Association appears needed &
possible online
Might be an ISPoT Phoenix
(A registered, not-for-profit Florida Co.)
Could just remain an interesting idea
Final Thoughts

40. iThermographer.INFO (
www.iThermographer.INFO)
Email: grp@MrPyro.com &
rpeacock@temperatures.com
Linkedin:
www.linkedin.com/in/raypeacock
Twitter: MrPyrometer
AIM: mrpyrometer
Share Your Ideas!

41. Apologies & Thanks
• My Apologies for not being here
• Thanks to Herb Kaplan for giving my
presentation
Ray Peacock