Automatically calculates Detection (D), Recognition (R) and Identification (I) distances for different targets, depending on the lens focal length.
Estimate detection, recognition and identification ranges for LWIR thermal camera cores
DRI range results shown in meters(m)
In the thermal imaging industry, the DRI (Detection, Recognition, and Identification) criteria—derived from the Johnson criteria—serve as the standard metric for determining a camera system’s range performance based on its sensor resolution, field of view (FOV), and pixel pitch. DRI defines the precise distances at which a thermal camera can distinguish a critical target (conventionally scaled to a standard 1.7-meter human or a 2.3-meter vehicle) by the minimum number of pixels projected across its critical dimension. Detection requires a minimum of 1.5 pixels, allowing an operator to notice that “something” is present in the frame. Recognition requires at least 6 pixels, enabling the operator to discern the type of object (e.g., distinguishing a person from a vehicle or an animal). Identification demands a minimum of 12 pixels, providing enough thermal detail to determine specific characteristics, such as whether a person is holding an object or if a vehicle is a truck versus a sedan. For industry professionals evaluating a Senssight camera core, these thresholds dictate how the interaction between sensor specifications (smaller pixel pitches and higher resolutions yield more pixels on target) and optics (narrower FOVs increase distance) directly translates into real-world operational range.
