Welcome to the Quantitative Infrared Thermography (QIRT) Conference - the largest international forum for specialists from academia and industry, who share an active interest in the latest developments of science, experimental practices and instrumentation, related to infrared thermography.

Following conferences in Paris (1992), Sorrento (1994), Stuttgart (1996), Łódź (1998), Reims (2000), Dubrovnik (2002), Brussels (2004), and Padova (2006), the 9th Quantitative Infrared Thermography Conference, QIRT2008, comes back to Poland again, and takes place at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków. This year's QIRT is organized by Institute of Electronics - Faculty of Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Control Engineering of the Technical University of Lodz and Faculty of Mining Surveying and Environmental Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Kraków.

The 9th International QIRT'2008 Conference emphasizes the following topics:

• State-of-the-art and evolution in the field of infrared scanners and imaging systems allowing quantitative measurements and related data acquisition and processing.
• Integration of thermographic systems and multi-spectral analysis; related problems like calibration and characterization of infrared cameras (mono- and multi-detector systems), emissivity determination, absorption in media, spurious radiation, three- dimensionality of observed objects, certification and standardization.
• Thermal effects induced e.g. by electromagnetic fields, elastic waves or mechanical stress.
• Application of infrared thermography to radiometry, thermometry and thermal parameters identification in all fields: industrial processes, material sciences, structure and material non-destructive evaluation, medicine and biomedical science, fluid mechanics, cultural heritage, environment.

This year more than 120 contributions from 24 countries will be presented during plenary, thematic and poster sessions. Non-destructive evaluation, material characterization and medical applications are of special interest during QIRT'2008. Among tens of presented papers, the following invited ones will focus the participants' attention:

• M. Shepard, Advances in Flash Thermography for NDT and Materials Characterization,
• P. Bison, Measuring Thermophysical Properties by IR Thermography,
• A. Nowakowski, Advances of QIRT in Medical Diagnostics.

In addition to the regular program, the Pre-conference Courses will take place the first day of the Conference. This year, the Organizers propose 5 courses led by the experts from different fields of thermovision applications:

• Basic Thermography, prof. X. Maldague, Université Laval, Canada
• Applications of Thermography to Thermo-Fluid-Dynamics, prof. G. M. Carlomagno, Universita di Napoli Federico II, Italy
• Application of Thermography to Buildings, by prof. E. Grinzato, CNR-ITC, Padova, Italy
• Medical Thermography, prof. E. F. J. Ring, Dr P. Plassmann, prof. K. Ammer, dr. R. Thomas; Medical Imaging Research Group, Faculty of Advanced Technology, University of Glamorgan, UK
• Application of Dynamic Thermography to Non-destructive Testing, prof. G. Busse, University Stuttgart, Germany

As usual, the Conference will be accompanied by an exhibition of thermovision equipment and software. The Organizers are very grateful to the Sponsors for their participation in the Conference, especially to FLIR Systems - the General Sponsor of QIRT'2008 Conference.

On behalf of the Organizing Committee I would like to thank very much the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical, Electronic, Computer and Control Engineering of the Technical University of Lodz, prof. Andrzej Materka for the support and dr Alina Wróbel from Faculty of Mining Surveying and Environmental Engineering of the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow for help in preparation of the Conference. We wish you most fruitful discussions on thermography and enjoyable stay in Kraków during the QIRT'2008 Conference.

Bogusław Więcek, Łódź, July, 2008


Concerning the QIRT, please consult the QIRT website.

QIRT Journal page: http://qirt.revuesonline.com.

QIRT 2006 page: http://qirt2006.pd.cnr.it.

Please address inquiries to qirt@p.lodz.pl.

Secretary of QIRT2008

Technical University of Lodz (TUL),
Institute of Electronics
Wólczańska 211/215,
PL 90-924 Łódź, Poland

Phone (+48) 42 631 2657, 2656, 2637
Fax (+48) 42 636 2238.