RED DEER, Alta. — The use of thermal imaging technology to detect defective commercial vehicle components has earned the province of Alberta’s Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Branch a national technology award.

The Provincial Program award was presented by the Intelligent Transportation Systems Society of Canada during a recent ceremony in Quebec.

The award recognizes “leadership in using technology to promote safety and/or efficiency in the transportation field.”

Alberta’s enforcement agency has three mobile thermal imaging systems that are equipped with colour and thermal cameras, imaging systems and software. It observes heat patterns while cameras display infrared radiation as visable images on the system’s monitors. Enforcement officers can then determine when a truck requires further inspection, as items such as dragging brakes, flat or underinflated tires, overheated bearings and other running gear-related safety systems are identified.

The province says the technology has an 88% accuracy rate in spotting vehicles with high-risk safety equipment issues. The award was shared with Intelligent Imaging Systems in Edmonton, which provides technical support for the systems.