Abstract. Thermography Infrared (TIV) is a nondestructive diagnostic technique, with non-contact, to evaluate the surface temperature of objects based on the emitted radiation. The surface temperature field is carried out using an image that reproduces color patterns. As a non-destructive, versatile, and non-contact technique, constitutes a very useful tool in various fields. Active or passive heating procedures may be used. Nevertheless, accurate measurement of temperature is strongly dependent on the emissivity value of the material. This study presents and discusses a methodology for measuring the materials emissivity using image processing software. The results show an effective and valuable contribution in this field, especially for application in active thermography.

Much of the built heritage is built of wooden structures. Due to the lack of maintenance, it is susceptible to biological attacks, such as fungi and wood destroying insects. Most of the methods used for its inspection and evaluation are intrusive. More friendly methods are required. Infrared thermography, being a non-destructive, contactless and versatile technique, can be a very useful tool in this field. However, the correct temperature measurement depends greatly on the emissivity value of the material. In this chapter, the emissivity values are presented and discussed for wood samples of Pinus pinaster species. In a qualitative analysis, this factor is not so important. Moreover, in a quantitative analysis for which the measured temperature value is relevant, it is crucial to know the emissivity value.

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Trees are essential natural resources for ecosystem balance, regional development, and urban greening. Preserving trees has become a crucial challenge for society. It is common for the use of invasive or even destructive techniques for health diagnosis of these living structures, and interventions after visual inspection. Therefore, the dissemination and implementation of increasingly less aggressive techniques for inspection, analysis and monitoring techniques are essential. The latest high-definition thermal cameras record thermal images of high resolution and sensitivity. Infrared thermography (IRT) is a promising technique for the inspection of trees because the tissue of the sap is practically on the surface of the living structure. The thermograms allow the identification of deteriorated tissues and to differentiate them from healthy tissues, and make an observation of the tree as a functional whole body. The aim of this study is to present, based on differences in the temperatures field given by the thermal images, a qualitative analysis of the status of two different arboreal species, Quercus pyrenaica Willd and Olea europaea L. The results show the IRT as an expeditious, non-invasive and promising technique for tree inspection, providing results that are not possible to reach by other methods and much less by a visual inspection. The work represents a contribution to make IRT a tree decision-making tool on the health status of trees.