Thermal imaging, or infrared camera technology’s key value to a business owner, is early and immediate detection of a threat while also reducing false alarms.

This technology can be utilized to protect a grow or dispensary because the system operates day or night, whether light or dark out, and can define visually what’s out there.

Normal cameras all work on the same basic principle: visible light. If there isn’t enough light, the cameras can’t do much to help you see. This is the allure of a thermal camera. Thermal imaging cameras make pictures from the differences in heat emitted by an object or person.

Focusing waves from an object’s infrared energy onto an infrared sensor array, thermal cameras don’t just track any movement, like other motion detection systems. In traditional motion detection systems, when pixels change the motion system’s analytics indicate movement and activate.

This type of movement can cause false alarms, but thermal systems don’t have this problem because birds, animals and the like can be differentiated from people and vehicles.

Often, to avoid false alarms with a motion detector, you have to set sensors to such low sensitivity that you get nothing, or, you set them too high to get a decent reading and then end up with false alarms. False alarms have always been the main problem with motion detection systems because if you receive too many false alarms you will become desensitized to an actual alarm.

Outdoor motion detectors are more reliable, but this situation (due to animals and birds) can still be the case. Most grows are often in remote areas where there is a lot of wildlife. In these cases, you will need an outdoor motion detector AND a camera. But this type of system becomes problematic in a darker outdoor scenario — and then we’re back to the visible light problem.

Motion detection systems traditionally have limited detection range and bad vision in darkness. Moreover, most outdoor rated motion detectors only really go up to 90 feet, and more often only 45 feet. Thermal cameras, on the other hand, can detect and have their analytics set for up to over 500 feet away depending on the camera.

Thermal camera analytics can detect body parts, and vehicles – imagery that when seen will causes action being taken because you will know it’s not a false alarm. With an average thermal camera system, 200 feet of vision is not a problem. The distance of 200 feet can be the difference between someone lurking in the bushes watching a growhouse vs. attacking the building.

Remember, the main intention with a camera and alarm system is early detection and warning with a minimal amount of false alarms. A thermal camera system paired with a good video monitoring service (an off site company that monitors video/alerts at night that can contact a site owner and police if a person attempts a break-in) is the best of both worlds.

If you can detect a criminal farther from your grow, you have a better chance of preventing a break in or robbery from ever happening. A thermal camera system will help provide you a better sound sleep and peace of mind.

Be safe — and be profitable.

Tony Gallo is the Senior Director of Sapphire Protection (www.sapphireprotection.com) with over 30 years in the Loss Prevention, Audit, Safety, and Risk/Emergency Management fields. Tony has a Bachelor of Science degree in Criminal Justice from New Jersey City University and is a member of Americans for Safe Access and the National Cannabis Industry Association. Tony is considered one of the leading authorities in cannabis and financial loan service security and safety. Contact Tony at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @SapphireProtect.