FLIR technology data;
FORWARD
LOOKING
INFRARED
(FLIR)
Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) is a
night vision enhancement system with many
potential applications in lawenforcement agencies. FLIR systems offer
vision enhancement superior to that available through conventional night visionsystems. Originally developed for military operations, FLIR systems have a wide variety of applications for law enforcement, fire
fighting, governmental and commercial/ industrial operations. Recent technological enhancements have made FLIR
systems more accessible (and affordable) as a tool to support treet-level law
enforcement operations.
WHAT
IS
FLIR?
FLIR
was originally developed by the
United States Navy to assist in the identification and targeting of opposition forces. FLIR units measure the amount of infrared energy emitted by various objects and
life forms. In other words, it allows the user
to “see” the amount of heat (or thermal energy) an object emits. Infrared energy is normally invisible to the human eye,
but FLIR systems are able to detect and
interpret emissions and provide the user
with an image, even in complete darkness. Like conventional night vision enhancement systems, FLIR does not provide a perfect picture of what is in its field
of view. What it does provide is an image
with sufficient clarity to allow users to
distinguish between cars, trees, and people.
Conventional night vision systems improve the user’s ability to “see” objects by
enhancing visible light. These systems only
work if there is at least a minimal amount of available light and if there is nothing obscuring visibility (such as dust, haze,
fog, or smoke). FLIR systems are still
highly effective under conditions of low-visibility or complete darkness. By providing an image of the infrared energy being
emitted by objects, the system can still
“see” in complete darkness or obscured visibility. While the effectiveness of
the system may be diminished when viewing distant objects under obscured conditions, FLIR still provide better visibility than other night vision enhancement systems. Because it measures thermal energy, FLIR can be used
to conduct surveillance without relying on search lights or special lighting, improving the user’s ability to remain undetected.
FLIR IMAGE
The
military advantages of these early
systems were significant. Naval vessels could still detect and target enemy ships, even on the darkest nights or under foggy
conditions. As one might imagine, these
early systems were large, heavy, and
expensive. During the past decades, however, FLIR systems have been adapted for use aboard all types of aircraft, naval vessels, and ground vehicles; in recent years some 2 manufacturers have even developed handheld units. Technological advances have
significantly lowered the size, weight, and
cost of FLIR systems. These new systems may offer reliable service without requiring extensive or costly upkeep. Handheld FLIR systems weight less than five
pounds and may be within the price range
of many law enforcement agencies.
LAW
ENFORCEMENT
APPLICATIONS
FLIR
systems have been successfully used by a number of major law
enforcement agencies in recent years.
Until
recently, FLIR has generally been a
tool
for aviation units. Mounted on a
helicopter, a FLIR system could assist in
pursuits and Search and Rescue missions.
The
systems were still expensive and
somewhat cumbersome. Because
aviation units were most likely to respond
to
situations where FLIR could be of use,
this
was a logical use of this resource.
More
recently, law enforcement
agencies have begun experimenting with
FLIR
systems mounted on ground vehicles
or as
independent, handheld units.
Lubbock, Texas,
has FLIR systems
integrated into their canine vehicles. A
canine vehicle is likely to become involved
in
search or pursuit operations, so
deploying ground vehicle systems with
these
units makes sense. As technologies
improve and costs continue to decrease, it
may
be more common to see ground
vehicle mounted or handheld FLIR
systems being used to support a wide
variety of law enforcement applications.
As a
tool to assist in either pursuits
or
Search and Rescue missions,
FLIR
offers several advantages to police
organizations. While it was designed for
use
during operations taking place at night
or
under obscured visibility conditions,
FLIR
can also be used during day light
hours. For example, a search for a
missing child or a fleeing suspect might
lead
to a farm field. Depending on the
nature and density of the foliage, an
aviation unit equipped with FLIR might be
able
to locate a child or suspect who might
otherwise be hidden from plain view, even
during daylight hours.
Many
FLIR systems are designed
to
videotape what the operator sees. In
addition, units may also serve as daylight
video
recording systems. These features
allow
officers to generate evidence which
might
be very helpful in prosecution. For
example, a helicopter equipped with FLIR
could
assist ground vehicles in a highspeed
pursuit of a stolen automobile. As
soon
as the helicopter arrived in the area
of
the pursuit, it could begin to record the
events occurring on the ground. The
system could videotape the infrared image
of
the driver “bailing” from the vehicle and
fleeing into a residential neighborhood.
The
system could continue to videotape
the
suspect as he fled through backyards
and
assist aviation personnel in directing
officers on the ground in order to make an
apprehension.
Having the chase on tape would
provide incontrovertible proof that the
suspect taken into custody was indeed the
driver of the stolen vehicle (and not an
innocent citizen “looking for a runaway
cat”). Because the system is not
dependent on the use of a search light
(which might produce shadows and
distortions on a videotape), it might also
show
that officers used appropriate force
in
taking a suspect into custody, thus
limiting potential liability.
FLIR
may be one of the best
options for vision enhancement under
conditions of obscured visibility. Some
jurisdictions frequently encounter
problems due to fog or haze. Vision
systems which amplify available light may
be
less effective under such conditions.
While
FLIR does have a limited ability to
penetrate smoke, dust, haze, or fog, it is
generally more effective than the naked
eye
or conventional night vision
enhancement systems under such
conditions. Police marine units may be
find
it easier to engage in routine patrol or
search and rescue operations with a FLIR
system, even under conditions of heavy
fog
(and even during daylight hours).
Fire
departments have been using
helmet-mounted FLIR systems for several
3
years
to aid personnel in searching for
victims in fires. Although FLIR cannot
penetrate all of the smoke generated by a
burning building, it can improve a fire
fighter’s ability to “see.” These systems
not
only allow fire fighters to conduct a
more
thorough search in less time, but a
search could be done with fewer
personnel, placing fewer lives at risk in the
performance of dangerous operations.
FLIR
can also be a valuable tool
for
police personnel conducting
surveillance or security operations.
Because the system works without relying
on
light sources, it can be operated in a
covert manner. Personnel surveilling a
dark
parking lot could observe potential
victims or suspects without alerting these
party’s to their presence. Individuals can
be
clearly seen, even under conditions of
complete darkness. These applications
might
enhance to covert nature of
surveillance operations and decrease the
number of personnel required to conduct
such
an operation.
FLIR
systems may also be used to
take
a thermal image of a person,
luggage, buildings, automobiles, trucks, or
boats
(generally in an effort to search for
drugs). While FLIR systems can not see
through walls or doors, they can detect
temperature differences which might
indicate the presence of hidden
compartments or contraband. A thermal
scan
may indicate if a person has
something secreted beneath their clothing,
or if
the hold of a ship contains ice-cold
fish
or something with an even greater
street value. Growing marijuana indoors
requires the use of high-temperature
artificial lighting; a thermal scan of a
neighborhood might indicate if a specific
house
has an unusual hot spot which
might
indicate that such indoor gardening
is
taking place.
It
must be noted that the courts
have
not fully resolved how police officers
can
use thermal images in carrying out
drug
or contraband detection. Some
federal circuit courts have viewed thermal
imaging as equivalent to any other search.
As
such, police officers in these circuits
may
need either explicit probably cause or
a
search warrant in order to use thermal
imaging. Other circuits have taken a more
liberal stance, allowing law enforcement
personnel to engage in random thermal
imaging. Readers would be well advised
to
check the status of FLIR imaging as a
search within their state and federal district
courts before undertaking such operations.
INCREASED
EFFICIENCY
WITH
FLIR
FLIR
offers a clear way for law
enforcement agencies to operate in a
more
efficient and effective manner. As a
tool
for an aviation unit, FLIR can
significantly reduce the time needed to
conduct a search. Agencies using FLIR
might
also have an easier time tracking
and apprehending fleeing suspects. FLIR
systems make pursuit and search
operations more efficient and also safer.
Suspects or victims can be quickly
located. Officers on the ground can be
directed to these locations without
conducting prolonged, and potentially
dangerous, searches.
As a
surveillance tool, FLIR may
allow
agencies to carry out some
operations with fewer personnel and in a
more
covert manner. Officers can surveil
areas, even under complete darkness.
Under
some conditions, FLIR may also allows users to detect well camouflaged individuals. Because many FLIR systems
allow
for the generation of video
recordings, it is easy to produce evidence
suitable for use in the courtroom. Such
evidence may enhance the likelihood of
prosecuting defendants in cases where
the
cover of night might have otherwise
made
suspect identification difficult.
The
use of FLIR technology can
allow
for agencies to conduct certain
operations with fewer personnel. In
addition, those personnel involved in such
missions might be able to perform their
duties with an enhanced degree of safety
and
security. The current cost FLIR
systems may preclude some law
enforcement agencies from enjoying these
benefits. Despite the current cost of FLIR
systems, it is likely that purchasing and
maintenance costs will continue to decline,
4 while
performance improves in the years
to
come.
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