"Happy Snaps" Reports
Occasionally we are asked to produce reports with overview Thermal and Control images of "normal" panels (we call the pictures in these reports happy snaps).
While we have some petroleum industry contracts requiring a small number of specifically defined images, and some insurance companies have sought "negative" images to help understand premises, we counsel customers against seeking overview images of "normal" panels or basing procedure documentation on them.
This is because the Thermographer examining individual components works at a much closer distance and at different and changing angles to the overview image provided. The Thermographer accounts for the condition and nature of the surfaces being examined and can apply emissivity corrections. They may adjust palettes and sensitivity and span controls to enhance and investigate any temperature variations observed, and take steps to manage reflections. Often supplementary information and measurements are gathered before a reportable anomaly is confirmed. So the view the Thermographer has of individual components can be very different to an overview still image, and working back from the latter is generally not appropriate.
We have found overview images may cause confusion for people attempting to interpret graphics containing reflections and other transient “apparent” data. We have noted attempts to include thermal images into operations manuals and have seen the misunderstandings that occur with different colours "for the same temperature". We do not mind including a "normal" image to show that a Thermal Imager was used, but ask that customers be aware of the inappropriate use of large numbers of "happy snaps" thermal images.
As one wag put it:
When you go in for an operation you want the surgeon to do a good job. Getting photos of an appendix in a bottle is not the patient's greatest need.
So when I go for Thermal Scanning I want a fully professional job. Why would I be impressed with book of Thermal Images showing that panels were found?
