The Challenge: Finding Hidden Moisture Faster

Operating across the United States, Canada, and Australia, the Onterris response and recovery team specializes in helping return buildings to safe, functional conditions following water damage, contamination, and other environmental hazards. Its teams handle a wide range of building science challenges, from indoor air quality and ventilation assessments to disaster response, chemical impacts, and post-remediation verification. A key part of this work is understanding what is happening inside a structure as quickly as possible. Inspections are often conducted under significant time pressure and in complex environments where moisture migration, hidden damage, and contamination risks must be identified early. Undetected moisture can increase remediation requirements, extend project timelines, and contribute to higher long-term costs. Onterris therefore needed a connected inspection workflow that could help teams assess larger areas efficiently, document findings consistently, and communicate results without adding unnecessary manual work.

How Onterris Uses Thermal Imaging for Moisture Detection

Thermal imaging for moisture and restoration plays an important role in Onterris’ inspection process. Thermal cameras help responders identify temperature differences and patterns that may indicate moisture paths, hidden leaks, airflow issues, and other conditions that are not immediately visible to the eye. These findings can then be investigated and confirmed using appropriate measurement tools. Onterris combines thermal imaging with moisture meters, hygrometers, iPads, LiDAR scanning, and integrated data capture. This allows its teams to map conditions efficiently, document affected areas, and produce clear findings that support remediation decisions.

Combining Thermal Images with Moisture Measurements

Thermal imaging allows inspectors to scan large surfaces such as walls, floors, and ceilings and quickly identify areas that require closer investigation. Because a thermal camera detects temperature patterns rather than moisture itself, Onterris teams use moisture meters and hygrometers alongside the camera to confirm and quantify conditions where necessary. This combination supports a more targeted inspection process. Responders can concentrate measurement and investigation on relevant areas instead of relying solely on visual signs or conducting unnecessarily broad intrusive testing.

Flir also offers a range of moisture meters for building inspections designed to help professionals investigate moisture-related issues and verify thermal findings.

Connecting Inspection Data with the MAST^® Platform

At the centre of the Onterris workflow is the company’s proprietary Moisture Assessment Survey Tool, MAST. The platform helps teams capture, organize, and report inspection data from the field. By connecting thermal images directly with MAST, Onterris can reduce the number of manual steps required between collecting an image and including it in an inspection record. This integration helps responders:

• Associate thermal images with the correct inspection data
• Reduce manual image transfers and administrative work
• Lower the risk of misplaced information and data entry errors 
• Improve consistency across inspection teams
• Prepare client-ready findings more efficiently

The result is a clearer flow of information from the inspection site to the final report.

Why Onterris Chose the Flir iXX-Series

Before adopting the Flir iXX-Series, Onterris used a mix of Flir Ex-Series and Cx-Series thermal cameras. The decision to move to the Flir iXX-Series was driven by the need for greater accuracy, stronger connectivity, and improved field efficiency. Onterris required cameras that would help teams detect subtle thermal anomalies, work comfortably during long inspections, and cover larger or elevated areas more effectively. The company’s key selection criteria included:

• High-resolution thermal imaging for improved anomaly detection 
• Ease of use and ergonomics for long days in the field 
• Open API compatibility for integration with internal software 
• Communication capabilities that enable real-time expert support 
• Longer battery life to reduce interruptions during inspections

High-Resolution Thermal Imaging

Higher-resolution thermal images help Onterris teams assess temperature patterns in greater detail and examine areas that may otherwise require additional inspection. This is particularly valuable when assessing large structures, elevated surfaces, or subtle anomalies where image quality can affect the responder’s ability to interpret conditions confidently. The improved imaging capability also produces clearer visual documentation for inclusion in client reports.

Open API Integration with MAST

Open API compatibility was one of the most important factors in Onterris’ decision. Rather than treating the thermal camera as a standalone device, the company could connect image capture more directly with its existing MAST workflow. This reduces the need to download, rename, sort, and manually associate images with inspection records after leaving the site. Reducing these steps helps save time while lowering the likelihood of errors or incomplete documentation.

Real-Time Collaboration and Expert Support

The Flir iXX-Series also supports connected workflows that allow field responders to access expert input while an inspection is taking place. Built-in communication capabilities can help less-experienced responders consult specialists, discuss findings, and make better-informed decisions without waiting until the inspection has been completed. This is particularly useful for geographically distributed teams working across the United States, Canada, and Australia.

The Results: Upwards of 40% Lower Moisture Mapping Costs

The transition to the Flir iXX-Series has delivered measurable improvements across Onterris’ operations.

At a Glance

As much as 40% Savings per Square Foot

Onterris has reduced its average moisture mapping cost per square foot by up to 40%. The result demonstrates how improved image quality and direct workflow integration can affect not only inspection performance, but also the profitability and scalability of the overall service.

Improved Inspection Accuracy

The connected workflow has helped Onterris improve detection accuracy and reduce the likelihood of overlooking relevant areas. Responders can identify potential problem areas earlier, examine them with greater confidence, and record findings more consistently.

Reduced Downtime

Longer battery life has reduced interruptions during extended inspections, allowing responders to cover more of a site without stopping to change or recharge equipment.

Faster and More Consistent Building Inspections

In practice, the Flir iXX cameras have helped Onterris: 

• Identify potential problem areas earlier
• Increase responder productivity in the field
• Improve the consistency of inspection results
• Simplify equipment training and deployment
• Reduce manual handling of thermal images
• Support larger and more complex inspections

These improvements enable teams to complete work more efficiently without introducing unnecessary operational complexity.

Better Reporting and Client Delivery

The benefits extend beyond the physical inspection. Connecting thermal images with the MAST platform helps Onterris produce stronger data and clearer client deliverables. Information can move more efficiently from the field into documentation, reducing the amount of follow-up analysis required after a site visit. This contributes to faster turnaround times and allows clients to make remediation decisions using more complete and consistent information.

Building a More Connected Moisture Inspection Workflow

The expansion of the Flir iXX-Series across Onterris has been driven by clear operational benefits. The cameras have helped improve responder confidence, strengthen data quality, and support faster delivery for clients. The ability to access expert input through live communication also means that complex findings can be discussed while teams are still on-site. Onterris is now looking towards deeper digital integration that further reduces manual work and connects thermal information with other types of inspection data.

Automating Environmental and Psychrometric Data

One future opportunity is to automatically record environmental and psychrometric data alongside each thermal image. Connecting temperature, relative humidity, moisture, and other relevant measurements with the associated image could provide additional context while reducing the need for responders to enter information manually. This would help create more complete inspection records and make it easier to review conditions after the site visit.

Consolidating Inspection Tools and Data

Further consolidation could bring thermal imaging, moisture measurements, environmental readings, LiDAR information, field notes, and reporting into a more integrated inspection ecosystem. This approach could reduce the number of separate tools and processes responders need to manage while improving data quality and usability. The Flir iXX-Series already supports this direction through its connectivity, application support, and ability to integrate thermal imaging into digital workflows. The wider move from standalone image capture to connected restoration workflows can also be seen in the integration between Flir iXX and RocketPlan, which connects thermal information with restoration documentation and reporting.

Connected Thermal Imaging for Building Inspections

Onterris’ adoption of the Flir iXX-Series shows how connected thermal imaging can improve the full inspection process, not just image capture. By integrating high-resolution thermal images directly with MAST, Onterris has reduced moisture mapping costs, improved responder productivity, strengthened inspection accuracy, and created better-quality deliverables for clients. The result is a faster and more scalable approach to building inspections that helps teams identify potential issues earlier and turn field information into actionable findings.

Learn More

Explore the Flir iXX-Series and discover how app-enabled thermal imaging can help your organization standardize inspections, connect field data with existing systems, and improve reporting.

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