Firefighter Wayne Benner Jr. used a thermal imaging camera from the top of a 30-metre aerial ladder to search the heavy brush near 40-year-old Maria Repec's cottage.
Repec was last seen during the early-morning hours of Oct. 19.
The search has included the use of infrared cameras in a helicopter, as well as grid pattern searches on both foot and all-terrain vehicles.
Thursday's search went back to the area immediately adjacent to Repec's cottage.
The area had been searched from both ground and air, but the intensely dense bush made it difficult.
``We are hoping that from the position up there on the ladder we'll have the best view of anyone who has been through this area,'' said Niagara regional police Staff Sgt. Bob Wright.
The thermal camera picks up objects which emanate heat, such as a person's body.
``A human is very easily recognizable with this camera, even in bright daylight such as we have today,'' Wright said.
While similar technology was used during the helicopter search, the ladder provides a much more stable base from which to operate, he said.
The camera is able to spot heat sources close to a kilometre away.
It can also ``see'' heat sources through obstructions like the bush and trees in the search area.
Police will be using a fishing derby being held in Port Colborne this weekend as an opportunity to ask participants to stay on the lookout for the New York state woman, Geady said.
