ABSTRACT
Buildings and structures require continuous control and maintenance. Negligence can lead to damage, increase energy costs and the cost of repairs, as well as compromise performance. Infrared techniques represent a rather new method with an extensive information potential, but one with shortcomings because of a lack of time and resources to develop well-tested investigation methods. Development of infrared techniques and methods for civil applications has been mainly motivated by the shortcomings of traditional methods for inspection. The main application of building thermography is to survey damage and energy-related conditions of the building envelope. Development of a new generation of short- and longwave infrared systems with high thermal and geometrical resolution and new operational functions, combined with modern video techniques and computer-based interactive image analysis systems, makes possible development of building thermography with more operational and cost-effective methods. Deficient and missing insulation, air leakage, and thermal bridges are common anomalies in both old and new buildings.
