Is it possible to use infrared to detect human body heat behind a thick masonry wall? reason why?

Question

i was assigned to detect a existance of living in a closed room. i have to develop a device, which is able to detect the body heat outside that closed room.

We can use Infrared to detect human body heat. but, when a human is standing behind a thick masonry wall, is it possible for that infrared device to detect that human body heat, to show that there's a existance of living behind the wall? Reason why?

Answer 1

Infrared detection is used through solid material in earthquake rescue (any warm object has to be stationary for a period perhaps)

http://www.roc-import.com/gb/recovery/life_finder.php

Another method is microwave

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/freeabs_all.jsp?tp=&arnumber=817625

Answer 2

No. Heat radiation is nearly the same as light. If you can't see the person then you probably can't view the infrared either. Certainly not through a brick wall. The best thing for that is microwave radar which can get through walls.

Answer 3

So, my son can wiggle his ears, and I can't. That doesn't make him a different species than me. And my daughter is double-jointed in her fingers, and I'm pretty sure she's pretty much human. My sister-in-law lives in Louisiana, and she is always cold, and is always wearing a sweatshirt. New species? Gimme a break! So, a guy can withstand cold temperatures. Some people can walk on hot coals, and never get burnt, too. So what. BTW, how do we know this story is the truth, anyway, didn't somebody just write about him? Couldn't they have lied, or made up most of it? How do we know? Proof, please!