I used the IPVM calculator. I manually inserted all the Mobotix specs for the thermal camera I am using into the calculator. The resulting IPVM information showed that these cameras would "see" across a field for about 500ft distance. I sent it to Mobotix for confirmation and their response was:
"The calculator and your PoV’s are not taking into consideration the flat (single dimension plane) views of a camera lens. Elevations, usable pixels on target, temperature change at distance are all factors which are not being considered. The biggest mistake I see people do is the beyond reasonable expectations of what you can get from a single camera."
I used the camera height and scene height fields which gave me a default tilt angle based on all the other criteria I put in (I assume?). By these calculations, the IPVM tool shows my view at over 400ft but Mobotix is telling me I'll get less than 200ft with these parameters.
So I'm confused re: which is correct - what I came up with on IPVM or what Mobotix is telling me? It's a huge delta so did I use the tool wrong or is Mobotix missing something? Could it be that the IPVM tool doesn't work the same for thermal camera calculations? I wouldn't think that would be much difference but I'm new to thermal.
The rest of their response is as follows. If you have access to my project in IPVM I can give you the name of the specific file but it contains the customer name so I can't give it to you here. Let me know how I can private message it to you.
"I can tell you right now, with the 4 cameras on the building, they will not see most of the rows past the 1st one I depicted, and even if they do, it will be a sliver in the cameras perspective. Trying to determine temperature at those distances with just the slightest sliver of profile from the cameras perspective is not going to work."
"Again, those rows are very long when trying to see down the valleys. Yes, the image will technically see that far, but that is not from the perspective of that single camera lens. Unless, we can get the cameras up 60 to 100 feet. The view from a single camera at the height of one of your poles looking that far at a low angle, trying to see heat differential is impossible. That is why I had to half the distance by adding cameras at both ends."
Appreciate your help (anyone who can answer!)