1. A method for enhancing local contrast in a thermal image, the method comprising: acquiring, from an absolute calibrated thermal imaging system, thermal image data representing a first thermal image; detecting one or more objects in the first thermal image based on thermal characteristics that comprise a known emission of thermal radiation for a class of objects, wherein the class of objects is associated with a predetermined redistribution function arranged to enhance local contrast within a portion of the thermal image pertaining to the class of objects; selecting the predetermined redistribution function for the one or more objects based on the known emission of thermal radiation of the class of objects; generating a new enhanced thermal image by redistributing the thermal image data having a first intensity distribution into a second intensity distribution using the selected predetermined redistribution function, wherein the new enhanced thermal image has enhanced local contrast in the portion of the thermal image pertaining to the class of objects; and outputting the new enhanced thermal image.