Conventionally, flame ionisation detectors or semiconductor gas sensors are used for detecting leaks on gas transport facilities. These highly sensitive detection systems locally collect and analyse samples of air that may be mixed with traces of methane. The samples have to be taken close to the surface of a facility in order to localize any leaks. Detection of small leakages with these instruments is time-consuming since the surface of the facility has to be scanned carefully. The procedure is further complicated since even light breezes rapidly move and dilute the gas clouds that originate from the leaks. Additionally parts of the facilities may be difficult to access with the primarily manually applied sensors.

GasCam is a remote detection system that provides video images of gas clouds displayed in front of a picture of the target. GasCam is not affected by these difficulties.

GasCam employs a highly sensitive cooled infrared focal plane array detector for detecting gas clouds in air. It analyses infrared radiation that propagates from the background of its field of view through the gas cloud to the optical receiver and the sensing element. Methane present in the space between the background and the sensor modifies the background radiation. Particularly designed software evaluates the modifications in real-time and returns information on the distribution of methane in the area observed. The Gas Camera operates in the optimum spectral range (long wave infrared LWIR) yielding the best detection performance, compared to other approaches.