Ask an ROV Pilot: Inside Pipe Profiling with Max Jackson

Ask an ROV Pilot: Inside Pipe Profiling with Max Jackson We sat down with ROV pilot Max Jackson of Underwater Engineering Services Inc. (UESI) to get an inside look at his work inspecting culverts and pipelines across Southeast Florida. This past summer, Max was featured on Smithsonian Channel’s hit series How Did They Fix That?, giving viewers a glimpse into a day in the life of an ROV pilot managing critical infrastructure in hurricane-prone areas. In our conversation, he shares how his work helps protect the state’s canals from storms like Hurricane Milton and what it takes to keep Florida’s waterways safe. Read the full interview below. Walk me through a day as an ROV pilot performing underwater inspections. Max: "We pack up the SRV-8 ROV—it comes in four boxes, which really isn’t much for the amount of equipment. Loading the truck takes about 20 minutes, [...]

By |2025-11-04T09:39:39-08:00November 4th, 2025|Blog, Landing, Testimonials|Comments Off on Ask an ROV Pilot: Inside Pipe Profiling with Max Jackson

Post-Hurricane Milton: How Inspection Crews Are Using ROVs to Prepare for the Next Disaster

Post-Hurricane Milton: How Inspection Crews Are Using ROVs to Prepare for the Next Disaster In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, inspection crews across Florida are rethinking how they approach disaster response and infrastructure resilience. With limited time between storms and growing concerns about underwater infrastructure, teams are turning to remotely operated vehicles (ROVs)—or professional underwater drones—to inspect, repair, and prepare critical systems before the next hurricane strikes. Pre and Post Storm Inspections In the event of another hurricane, civil engineering teams across the state are prioritizing pre-storm inspections of critical infrastructure—such as pipelines, canals, and roadways—to ensure these systems can withstand flooding. Traditionally, advanced divers carried out underwater investigations—collecting data, documenting conditions, and recommending repairs or improvements. Today, instead of sending divers into dangerous, zero-visibility, alligator-prone floodwaters, inspection crews deploy ROVs first. These systems capture high-resolution sonar and video data safely from the surface, delivering [...]

By |2025-11-19T13:10:56-08:00August 29th, 2025|Blog, Landing|Comments Off on Post-Hurricane Milton: How Inspection Crews Are Using ROVs to Prepare for the Next Disaster
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