Artificial intelligence approaches to thermal imaging have several advantages and disadvantages. AI can help thermal imaging detect infrared radiation autonomously without human interference, similarly to how AI uses reasoning to solve problems. This allows thermal imaging to be used for surveillance, search and rescue, and military applications. However, AI replacing human jobs in thermal imaging and other fields could lead to issues like unemployment and poverty. While thermal imaging aided by AI is useful, it also has limitations like not detecting all types of moisture or damage.

1. ARTIFICIAL INTELENGENCE APPROCHES TO
THERMAL IMAGING
Rahul Abhishek
B-tech in Information Technology
rahulmithu.abhishek@gmail.com
Abstract
In this paper, we discussed about the approach of Artificial Intelligence (AI) towards thermal
imaging. At first we are going to discuss about AI, thermal imaging and at last but not the least
about their approaches.
Since AI is one of the branches of computer science which aims at building machines that
can think, feeland take decisions just like humans do. It is used in Expert systems, thermal
imaging, Robotics, Neuroscience,Gaming, and in many more fields. It can be classified into two
types first one is strong artificial intelligence and other is weak artificial intelligence.
Thermal imaging is the process which uses an infrared imaging and measurement camera to
“see” and “measure” thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal or infrared energy cannot
be visible through naked eyes but with the help of thermal imaging we can now see and measure
the infrared radiation. It has its wider application in industries, national army, different types of
mines etc.
In this paper we are going to show the interrelationship between artificial intelligence (AI)
and the thermal imaging. It is widely or say completely related to each other. Their function,
operation and co-relation are described further in this paper.
Keywords:-
Artificial intelligence (AI),Thermal imaging, intelligent behavior
Introduction
What is AI and what is its goal?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is usually defined as the science of making computers do
things that require intelligence when done by humans. AI has had some success in limited, or
simplified domains that perceives its environment and takes actions that maximize its chances of
success. It is also defined as "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines."
AI is a field of science and technology based on disciplines such as computer science,
biology, psychology, linguistics, mathematics and engineering. The goal of AI is to develop
computers that can think, as well as see,hear,walk, talk, and feel. A major thrust of AI is the
development of computer functions normally associated with human intelligence, such as
reasoning, learning, and problem solving.
Attributes ofintelligent behavior
AI attempts to duplicate the following capabilities in computer based systems: -

2.  Think and reason
 Use reason to solve problems
 Learn or understand from experience
 Acquire and apply knowledge
 Exhibit creativity and imagination
 Dealwith complex or perplexing situations
 Respond quickly and successfully to new situations
 Recognize the relative importance of elements in a situation
 Handle ambiguous, incomplete or erroneous information
Artificial intelligence
What is thermal imaging?
Infrared light falls between the visible and microwave parts of the electromagnetic spectrum with
wavelengths of 2-15 _m, so is not visible to the human eye.
Near IR waves (0.7-25 _ m) are closest to visible light; far IR waves (25-1000
_m) are closer to the microwave region.
Any object with a temperature higher than absolute zero (-273.15_C or 0 K)
Radiate energy as electromagnetic waves,which travel at the speed of light. For
Temperatures commonly encountered in building physics, most emissive power
Falls within the IR part of the electromagnetic spectrum; the higher the temperature of an object
the more IR radiation it emits.
Thermal imaging devices make an image of the thermal patterns and measure the emissive power
of surfaces in an area at various temperature ranges.
They use a lens to focus the emitted IR radiation onto a detector and the electrical response signal
is converted into a visual display (digital picture) in which
The different colours correspond to various temperature levels of the surface on
which it is focused. These images can be analysed to identify the potential
problem areas. The accuracy of measurements depends on a variety of factors:
 Emissivity
 Ambient temperature and wind effects
 Atmospheric particles
 Image angle and distance effects
Types ofArtificial Intelligence

3. The AI is broken down into two groups
 Weak AI
 Strong AI
Weak AI:- IT refers to technology that is able to manipulate predetermined rules and
apply the rules to reach a well-defined goal. The most inspirational technologies that are emerged
from the development of weak AI are the robotics, genetics, and nanotechnological revolution.
Strong AI: - It refers to technology that has the ability to think cognitively or is able to
function in a way similar to the human brain. Strong AI, which is in its infant stage, promises a
lot due to the recent developments in nanotechnology.
Applications of AI:-
 Hospitals and medicine-Amedicalclinic can use artificial intelligence systems to
organize bed schedules, make a staff rotation, and provide medical information .Artificial
neural networks are used as clinical decision support system for medical diagnosis, such
as in Concept Processing technology in EMR software.
 Online and telephone customer service-Artificialintelligence is implemented in
automated online assistants that can be seen as avatars on web pages. It can avail
for enterprises to reduce their operation and training cost. A major underlying
technology to such systems is natural language processing.
 Game playing-We can buy machines that can play master level chess for a few hundred
dollars.
 Computer service-The world is composed of three-dimensional objects, but the inputs to
the human eye and computers' TV cameras are two dimensional.
 Expert systems- A “knowledge engineer'' interviews experts in a certain domain and
tries to embody their knowledge in a computer program for carrying out some task. How
well this works depends on whether the intellectual mechanisms required for the task are
within the present state of AI. When this turned out not to be so, there were many
disappointing results.
Applications of thermal imaging:
 Fugitive Searches
While most people understand how to hide from sight, they rarely consider hiding their
body heat. When ambient light, flashlights or searchlights fail to illuminate a suspect,there is still
a good chance that the suspect’s body heat is visible to the thermal imager. This makes
detection, tracking and apprehension easier.
 Surveillance
Because the thermal imager does not require light and only receives heat energy, it
can be used to observe potential criminal activity at a distance. Whether a suspect is
dealing drugs on the street,or trying to stealpurses and stereos from cars,low-light
conditions work to his benefit.
 Search and rescue
Though fire departments normally lead search operations, police officers may
frequently arrive first or be asked to assist until sufficient manpower is on hand. Whether

4. the victim is a lost child or a disoriented elderly adult, he or she can be located more
quickly and at less risk with the assistance of a thermal imager. A thermal imager can
overcome the normal challenges of low-light situations as well as environmental
conditions, such as fog or smoke. Many thermal imagers will detect a human at 300
meters or more
.
 Marine Patrol
Thermal imagers are ideal in marine applications, as the open expanse of water and
limited number of heat sources makes thermal imaging easy and effective.
 Military:-
Thermal imaging cameras capture images infrared wavelengths of 8 to 12 micrometresand at this
wavelength warm blooded organisms glow brightly. This technology is already in use by fire
fighters and they use it to find out the danger spots in case that has been a fire.
Proposedapproach:-
Let us first define the terms:
Artificial-It is something made by humans, rather than natural or made in imitations of
something natural. For ex-artificial teeth.
Thought, understanding, self-awareness,communication, reasoning, learning, having emotional
knowledge, retaining, planning and problem solving.
Combining both, Artificial Intelligence (AI), is the simulation of intelligence in machines. It is
both the intelligence of machines and the branch of computer science which aims to create it,
through the study and design of intelligent agents.
The basic principle of artificial intelligence is that it has the ability to think and reason.
Similarly, in thermal imaging this very principle is used. It detects infrared radiation on its own

5. without human interference. It uses its own intelligence to detect the desired and correspondingly
responds according to its intelligence.
It can also use its intelligence to calculate the distance of obstacle just like artificial
intelligence uses reason to solve problems.
Thermal or infrared energy, is light that is not visible. It is so, because its wavelength is too
long to be detected by human naked eye. It’s the part of electromagnetic spectrum that we
perceive as heat.
Thermal imaging is one field within artificial intelligence. It involves electronic, usually
computer controlled device to perform task that requires extreme accuracy and detect objects that
are not visible to naked human eye. It detects the infrared rays not possible for humans to view.
An example of thermal imaging is thermal camera that has the ability to detect infrared
radiation from warm-blooded organisms or objects radiating heat energy.
thermal cameras
Advantages of artificial intelligenge approaches to thermal imaging:-
 Jobs - depending on the level and type of intelligence these machines receive in the
future, it will obviously have an effect on the type of work they can do, and how well
they can do it .Thermal imaging surveys are non-invasive and non-destructive allowing
the thermal imaging survey to be completed whilst plant and equipment is running, in
production and on load.Thermal imaging surveys are real time and produce fast, accurate
and immediate temperature measurement and fault detection.
 They don't stop - as they are machines there is no need for sleep, they don't get ill ,
there is no need for breaks .There obviously may be the need for them to be charged or
refueled .Increased reliability and efficiency of plant and equipment resulting in reduced
breakdowns and stoppages and significantly reduced maintenance costs and production
losses.
 No risk of harm - when we are exploring new undiscovered land or even planets, when
a machine gets broken or dies, there is no harm done as they don't feel, they don't have
emotions..Assists businesses to comply with insurance requirements and complements
their existing risk avoidance measures.

6.  Act as aids - they can act as 24/7 aids to children with disabilities or the elderly, they
could even act as a source for learning and teaching. They could even be part of security
alerting you to possible fires that you are in threat of, or fending off crime. Thermal
image surveys can be incorporated into existing predictive and preventative maintenance
programs.
 Their function is almost limitless - as the machines will be able to do everything (but
just better) essentially their use, pretty much doesn't have any boundaries..Thermal image
surveys can be performed at a convenient time and tailored to each client’s individual
requirements.
Disadvantagesofartificial intelligence approaches to thermal imaging:-
 If robots start replacing human resources in every field, we will have to deal with
serious issues like unemployment in turn leading to mental depression, poverty
and crime in the society.
For ex-With the advent of thermal cameras the jobs of security guards have been
lost.
 We cannot detect moisture or some types of property damage with a thermal
imaging camera.
 Only surface thermal fluctuations will be detected by thermal imaging. This is
different from X-ray devices, which can "see" through walls.
 Apart from these concerns, there are chances that intelligent machines overpower
human beings. Machines may enslave human beings and start ruling the world.
Conclusion:-
Indeed, for anyone who schedules, plans, allocates resources,designs new products, uses the
Internet, develops software,is responsible for product quality, is an investment professional,
heads up IT, uses IT, or operates in any of a score of other common capacities and arenas,new
Artificial Intelligent Technologies can provide competitive advantage.
References:-
1. Business Applications of Information Technology
By: James O’Brien
2. Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach
By: Stuart J. Russel, Peter Norvig
3. Pratik, Rahul Abhishek, Payal Sinha. “Future Aspect of Artificial Intelligence”. ICWET-2012,
pp336.