Police helicopters are equipped with a variety of high-tech surveillance equipment that allows them to gather intelligence from the air. However, their ability to see through walls is limited.
Thermal imaging cameras
One of the most advanced technologies police helicopters use is thermal imaging cameras. These cameras detect infrared radiation, allowing them to see thermal variations and effectively create heat maps. This allows police to identify people, animals, and objects based on their warmth against cooler backgrounds.
Thermal imaging cameras can be used to see through some materials, such as thin fabric or plastic. However, most building materials like wood, brick, concrete and metal are too dense for thermal radiation to penetrate. While thermal imaging can identify heat signatures through walls, it cannot see detailed images or through thicker, denser materials.
X-ray backscatter technology
Some police forces and government agencies have experimented with x-ray backscatter technology, which uses x-ray beams to scan surfaces. Backscatter x-ray systems direct a narrow beam of x-rays at objects and analyze the scattered radiation that bounces back to create images.
This technology has enabled police to see through clothing and detect objects concealed on a person’s body. However, backscatter x-rays have very limited ability to penetrate most solid objects. The radiation scatters too quickly to produce clear images through walls or dense materials.
Radar imaging
Police helicopters may also be equipped with radar imaging technology. This uses radio waves to scan structures and can penetrate some materials, like drywall. However, radar imaging only provides very low resolution images. It cannot clearly discern detailed shapes of objects or people through walls.
Here is an example of the kind of blurry, low-resolution image radar can produce through a wall:
|  |
As you can see, these images may detect objects and movement but cannot provide detail like facial features or clear shapes.
Limitations prevent seeing through walls clearly
In summary, police helicopter surveillance technology has limits on its ability to see through dense materials. While thermal imaging can identify heat signatures and human forms through thinner barriers, most building walls are too thick for this or other imaging technologies to penetrate clearly.
No currently available helicopter surveillance systems have the power to produce clear visual images or details through typical interior walls. Any claims of police or helicopters using x-ray vision to spy into buildings are likely exaggerated. The technology has not reached that level of visual penetration.
Privacy concerns remain
While helicopter surveillance has limits, it remains highly sophisticated and concerning from a civil liberties perspective. Police can monitor people’s movements in public spaces, peer into some structures, conduct wide-area surveillance, and track fleeing suspects with advanced cameras and sensors.
This level of monitoring raises privacy issues. As the technology continues advancing, regulations and oversight will be needed to prevent overly intrusive practices and uphold people’s rights.
Conclusion
In summary, while police helicopters use very sophisticated surveillance equipment like thermal cameras, radar, and backscatter x-ray, current technologies still have major limitations in their ability to see through most building walls and materials. Dense barriers prevent the level of image penetration needed to produce clear visuals behind solid objects. However, helicopters can detect heat signatures, movement, and some shapes through thinner barriers. Overall helicopter surveillance capabilities raise significant privacy issues that may require legal protections and restrictions to prevent overly expansive police powers.