A forward looking infrared (FLIR) system is a television camera that takes pictures in infrared. It is used to help pilots steer their vehicles at night, and in fog.
There are two basic ranges of infra-red. Ten micrometre cameras, or "far infra-red" can see engine exhaust, or human body heat a few miles away, but longer distance views become very fuzzy because the infra-red light is absorbed by the air.
Four micrometre infra-red can see almost as well, and is far less absorbed by air, but requires a much more expensive sensor array, and lower-teperature cooling.
Many FLIR systems use digital image processing to improve the image quality. The FLIR sensor arrays often have inconsistent responses from pixel to pixel. To fix this, the response of each pixel is measured at a the factory, and a linear transform maps the measured brightness.
FLIRs are often used in fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and armored fighting vehicles. In warfare, they have two large advantages. First, the enemy cannot detect one. Second, they see heat, and see through fog.
FLIR also promised to produce the most defensible deer number estimates (video images of all deer reported); this was an important consideration following a hunting season where hunter discontent and mistrust of resource management agency decisions was high.
Browsing surveys were conducted on the FLIR survey areas to measure the overwinter impacts of the deer seen on the areas, and to quantify the long-term impacts of browsing on the areas, as well.
Observations of deer using FLIR imagery appear to be a useful technique in determining a minimum count of deer on a site-specific basis in Pennsylvania's forests.
FLIR reported pre-tax earnings in its Forms 10-Q for the second and third quarters of 1998 that were overstated by 62% and 25%, respectively.
FLIR's revenue recognition policy allowed revenue to be recognized upon shipment of the units to the bonded warehouse if the only outstanding obligation was the approval of a license for the units.
These overstatements were spread among the quarters of 1999; FLIR overstated inventory by nearly $3.4 million in the first quarter, by $2.7 million in the second quarter, by $2.4 million in the third quarter, and by $8.9 million in the fourth quarter.
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