The field of predictive maintenance has embraced thermal imaging as a means to detect the impending failure of mechanical and electrical items. The advance warning in mechanical and electrical systems is typically indicated by heat and can be viewed through thermal imaging. For predictive maintenance, sophisticated infrared cameras are used to view the area in question and provide insight to the performance of the items by evaluating temperature variations across the surface. Thermal imaging is also instrumental in evaluating the performance of flat roofs, allowing predictive maintenance to find potential faults.