Infrared Insights: The Thriving Global Thermal Imaging Market

Rajesh Uppal March 27, 2024 Industry, Photonics Comments Off on Infrared Insights: The Thriving Global Thermal Imaging Market 108 Views

In a world predominantly reliant on vision, we are often limited by our ability to see in adverse conditions. In the absence of daylight, in dense fog, or within a veil of smoke, our vision is compromised. In a world where visibility is essential for safety and security, the limitations of human vision can be a significant obstacle. Whether you’re in the military, law enforcement, or even just interested in outdoor activities, the ability to see clearly in the darkest of nights, dense fog, or thick smoke can be a game-changer.

But what if there was a way to transcend these barriers and see what’s hidden from our eyes? This is where advanced thermal imaging technology takes center stage, enabling us to unveil concealed targets in conditions where conventional vision falls short. In this article, we delve into the remarkable world of thermal imaging and how it conquers darkness, fog, and smoke to reveal what lies beneath.

The thermal imaging camera, initially developed for surveillance and military applications, has now found widespread utility in a diverse array of sectors. This includes building inspections, autonomous vehicles, industrial inspections, firefighting, skin temperature screening, and scientific research

The Power of Thermal Imaging

Thermal imaging cameras, sometimes referred to as infrared cameras, work by detecting and visualizing heat, not visible light. They operate within the infrared spectrum, which encompasses wavelengths longer than those of visible light. Here’s how they do it:

1. Detecting Infrared Radiation: All objects warmer than absolute zero (-273°C/-459°F) emit infrared radiation. This radiation in the MWIR and LWIR wavelengths (3µm–14µm) is emitted in an amount proportional to the temperature of the object. Thermal imaging focuses and detects this radiation, then translates the temperature variations into a greyscale image, using brighter and darker shades of grey to represent hotter and cooler temperatures, which gives a visual representation to the heat profile of the scene.

2. Translating Heat into Images: These cameras focus on and detect the emitted infrared radiation, capturing even the slightest variations in heat, as small as 0.01° Celsius. This data is then translated into a greyscale image, with brighter and darker shades representing hotter and cooler temperatures, creating a visual representation of the heat profile in the scene.

3. Overcoming the Invisibility of Infrared: Although infrared energy is invisible to the human eye, thermal imaging technologies can convert this energy into visible colors. The camera processes this information, and the output is a standard video signal that can be viewed on a regular monitor.

Defeating Darkness

As a technology originally developed for military purposes, thermal imaging allows soldiers to effectively see in areas where little to no light is present, such as in the evening, or during incidents where smoke, fog, dust or any other airborne obscurant is present. These cameras allow soldiers to operate effectively in situations where little to no light is present, such as during nighttime operations or when smoke, fog, or dust obscures visibility. Key features include:

1. Wide-Angle Detection: Humans, animals, and vehicles typically have a higher temperature than their surroundings. This temperature contrast provides the advantage of detecting threats from a considerable distance, sometimes up to 50 kilometers, much farther than optical imaging allows.

2. Penetrating Obscurants: Thermal energy can pass through various visible obscurants, including smoke, dust, light fog, and light foliage. This means that thermal imaging remains reliable even in adverse environmental conditions.

3. Revealing Concealed Objects: Precise temperature differences detected by thermal imaging can sometimes expose objects hidden beneath other materials, such as revealing structural elements behind walls or detecting concealed items under clothing.

Global thermal imaging camera market

The global thermal imaging camera market has exhibited remarkable growth, with a valuation of $3.16 billion in 2020. Projections indicate an upward trajectory, with expectations of reaching $7.49 billion by 2030, representing a significant CAGR of 10.0% from 2021 to 2030. The global thermal imaging market, valued at USD 3.85 Billion in 2022, is on a rapid growth trajectory with an expected revenue CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period.

This robust expansion can be attributed to several key drivers:

Automotive and Aerospace & Defense Sectors: The adoption of thermal imaging technology in the automotive industry and the substantial government investments in the aerospace and defense sectors are driving significant revenue growth. This technology’s versatile applications are increasingly essential in these industries.
Night Vision Advancements: Thermal imaging stands out among the night vision technologies due to its effectiveness in environments with little to no ambient light. This technology plays a pivotal role in revealing defects and inefficiencies by analyzing a building’s heat distribution, detecting air leaks, and identifying overloaded circuits and faulty machinery.
Price Reduction and Adoption: The reduction in the price of thermal imaging products, combined with their increasing adoption in perimeter security and penetration into machine vision applications, drives the market’s expansion. Additionally, the integration of highly advanced video cameras in Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) for both military and civilian operations contributes significantly to market growth.
Consumer Demand: The global demand for thermal imaging solutions is surging, spanning various sectors including healthcare, biological sciences, manufacturing, and military applications. Advanced driver assistance technologies are also contributing to market growth.
Defense Sector Integration: The defense sector has realized substantial benefits from thermal imaging cameras in terms of accurate target identification, even in unfavorable weather conditions. These cameras are widely used in monoculars, binoculars, military vehicles, and other surveillance tools, bolstering the industry’s efficiency and security.

However, the export sensitivity associated with thermal imaging products poses a notable challenge to market growth. Strict regulations, governed by the U.S. Department of Commerce and International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), restrict the export of thermal and infrared cameras to specific nations. Failure to comply with these regulations can lead to significant fines.

Market Segmentation:

The market is segmented based on product type into cameras, modules, and scopes & goggles, categorized as cooled and uncooled. The uncooled segment, particularly in handheld and fixed types, is expected to maintain its dominance in revenue during the forecast period.

Fixed Cameras: In 2022, fixed cameras held the largest revenue share in the global thermal imaging market. These cameras are extensively utilized for continuous monitoring of stationary targets, offering valuable data and enhancing operational efficiency.
Thermal Cameras: The thermal cameras segment exhibited the fastest revenue growth rate in 2022. These cameras prove highly effective in security applications, easily detecting potential intruders even in challenging conditions such as heavy rain or fog. Moreover, they have applications in monitoring body temperature, aiding in the creation of safer and healthier environments.
Thermal Scopes: Thermal scopes are expected to account for a significant revenue share in the market. Their versatility, providing day and night functionality and resilience in various environmental conditions, makes them a valuable choice in multiple applications.

Application Insights:

Application segments include security & surveillance, monitoring & inspection, and detection & measurement. Among industry verticals, aerospace & defense held the highest share in 2020, with the commercial sector projected to experience significant growth.

Security & Surveillance: The security & surveillance segment dominated the thermal imaging market in 2022, attributed to thermal cameras’ ability to differentiate between potential threats and non-threatening objects. This feature significantly reduces false alarms, cuts down on costs, and enhances overall security.
Monitoring & Inspection and Detection & Measurement: These segments also play a crucial role in various applications, providing advanced capabilities in monitoring, inspection, and measurements.

The healthcare and life sciences vertical is set to experience substantial growth, especially in applications related to internal injury detection and wildlife health monitoring. The healthcare and life sciences vertical is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to increasing usage of thermography for detection of internal injuries without affecting the human body. This technique is also useful in monitoring wildlife health, which helps to cure and protect them from illness.
While the security & surveillance segment contributed significantly in 2020, the monitoring & inspection segment is anticipated to capture a substantial market share in the forecast period.
Sales channels are divided into direct and indirect, with the indirect channel expected to grow rapidly in the coming years.

Military Infrared Systems include:

The thermal imaging market is dominated by the aerospace & defense vertical owing to the growing need for border security for law enforcement. Moreover, thermal imaging scopes and defense solutions conform to the strictest military standards for deployment (land, sea, and air). These solutions are used for thermal scopes, weapon sights and stations, gimbals, UAVs, naval observation, IR sensors, and driver vision enhancers (DVEs) for tanks and military vehicles. The security & surveillance segment was the highest revenue contributor in 2020, however, the monitoring & inspection segment is projected to garner significant market share during the forecast period.

Ground-based Systems – Night Sights, Fire Control Systems, Driver’s Vision Enhancers, Family of Weapon Sights, Fused IR/I2 Systems, Unattended Ground Sensors, Soldier Systems, Hostile Fire Indicators (HFI); Active Protection Systems (APS); Counter-UAS systems.

Airborne Systems – Targeting/Navigation Pods, Targeting/Piloting Systems, Reconnaissance Systems, Infrared Countermeasures, Infrared Search and Track (IRST), Persistent Surveillance aerostats and fixed/rotary wing UAVs, Degraded Visual Enhancement (DVE) systems;

Naval Systems – optronic masts, thermal night sights, targeting systems and shipboard EO/IR;
Tactical Missile Seekers – air-to-air, surface-air, air-surface, ground-ground; smart munitions. Strategic Surveillance and Missile Defense – infrared satellite early warning systems and ballistic missile defense systems.

Regional Insights:

Asia-Pacific (APAC) is expected to exhibit the highest growth rate, driven by regional vendors in China and India offering cost-effective solutions, leading to reduced prices of thermal imaging products.

China, in particular, has emerged as a major player in the thermal imaging market, with expectations of reaching a 64% share of the global market by 2025. Data by international market research company Yole Développement shows that four out of the top ten infrared thermal imaging companies are now Chinese, covering 44 percent of global market share in 2020, an increase of 29 percent year-on-year. Such extensive growth has led the company to issue a new forecast: by 2025, China’s share of the global infrared thermal imaging market will reach 64 percent.

North America: In 2022, the North American market secured the largest revenue share due to the rising demand for surveillance across various industries and ongoing cost reductions for thermal cameras. However, challenges such as inaccurate measurements and color issues need to be addressed for sustained market growth.
Asia Pacific: The Asia Pacific market is expected to witness moderately fast revenue growth. This region has widely adopted thermal imaging technology to enhance visibility under low-light conditions and in challenging environments. Additionally, the falling cost of thermal cameras for smartphones contributes to market expansion.
Europe: The European market is set to account for a considerably large revenue share, primarily driven by the growing popularity of autonomous vehicles. These vehicles utilize thermal imaging cameras to improve night vision, enhancing overall safety in diverse environmental conditions.

Key Technological Advancements:

Ongoing developments in Uncooled Focal Plane Arrays (UFPA) focus on enhancing pixel density and sensitivity, aiming to provide high-resolution imaging.
Advancements in uncooled technology have enabled the commercialization of thermal products, previously primarily utilized by the military and defense sectors.
The Short-Wave Infrared (SWIR) segment is expected to lead market growth, offering advantages such as the ability to see through glass and covert laser detection.
Thermal modules are expected to grow rapidly due to their compact size, low cost, and versatility in integration with other devices.

Competitive Landscape:

The global thermal imaging market is moderately consolidated, with a few major players holding the majority of the revenue share. These key market players engage in strategic developments, including mergers and acquisitions, strategic agreements, and product innovations.

The key players in this industry are FLIR Systems, Inc. (Oregon, US), Fluke Corporation (Washington, US), Leonardo S.p.A. (Rome, Italy), L3, HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (Florida, US), and United Technologies (Connecticut, US) are the key players in the thermal imaging market. These players are increasingly undertaking strategies such as product launches & developments, expansions, partnerships, agreements, contracts, and mergers & acquisitions to increase their market share.

A significant development in this market is the launch of the FLIR A8580 series of thermal science cameras by FLIR Systems, Inc. These cameras are designed for various industrial, military, scientific, and R&D applications, offering high-resolution imaging capabilities and integration with cutting-edge thermal analysis software, providing users with a powerful yet compact solution.

The global thermal imaging market is poised for substantial growth, driven by advancements in technology and its diverse applications across industries, while regulatory challenges remain a noteworthy concern.