How ROVs Are Transforming Dam Inspections Worldwide

Dams are critical to modern infrastructure—providing clean energy, regulating water supply, and preventing floods. But with thousands of large dams around the world aging every year, the need for reliable, efficient inspection methods has never been greater.

Traditional approaches—like using human divers—are risky, expensive, and often limited by environmental conditions. Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are now emerging as the safer, smarter alternative for routine and emergency dam inspections.

The High Stakes of Dam Safety

Dams face constant exposure to:

• Pressure fluctuations
• Corrosion and erosion
• Sediment buildup
• Natural events like earthquakes and floods

Structural failures, even rare, can have catastrophic downstream effects. Timely inspection and maintenance are vital for public safety and long-term operational health.

The Problem With Traditional Inspection Methods

• Safety risks: Deep water, strong currents, poor visibility, and suction hazards make diver-based inspections dangerous.
• Downtime: Draining water to inspect components affects operations like power generation or irrigation.
• Environmental conditions: Wildlife and unpredictable terrain make access difficult or unsafe.
• High cost: Manual inspections often involve cranes, barges, divers, and extended closures.

ROVs: Smarter Tools for Modern Dams

ROVs are underwater robots piloted from the surface, equipped with high-resolution cameras, LED lights, sonar, robotic arms, and other tools. They provide real-time visuals and environmental data—without needing to empty the dam or endanger human lives.

Why ROVs are Ideal for Dam Inspections

• Safe: Zero risk to human divers
• Efficient: Operates continuously at depths over 300 meters
• Cost-effective: Eliminates the need for draining or heavy equipment
• Rapid deployment: Perfect for emergency inspections
• Flexible: Adaptable payloads for specific inspection needs
• Reliable in all conditions: Works in turbid water, confined spaces, and low-visibility environments

What Can Be Inspected with an ROV?

ROVs like the EyeROV TUNA can be used for:

• Dam wall inspections: Identify cracks, leaching, spalling, and surface degradation
• Gate assessments: Evaluate condition and corrosion on sluice, intake, and spillway gates
• Seepage tracking: Detect leaks through joints, blocks, and beading
• Guiding rail alignment: Inspect rails for underwater gates and moving parts
• Sediment surveys: Assess silt, mud, or slurry buildup at the dam base
• Plunge pool & spillway bucket inspections: Monitor scour, erosion, or damage
• Post-disaster inspections: Quickly assess damage after floods or seismic events
• Turbine housing checks: Perform internal visual assessments without draining

Ideal Use Cases for ROVs

ROVs are especially valuable when:

• Divers are at risk: Hazardous conditions or unknown underwater structures
• Downtime must be minimized: Power generation or irrigation schedules can’t be paused
• Water can’t be drained: Conservation priorities or logistical barriers
• Environmental hazards exist: Wildlife presence or dangerous terrain
• Immediate inspection is needed: Emergency assessments after natural disasters
• Long-term monitoring is essential: Structural health comparisons over time

EyeROV TUNA: Engineered for Infrastructure

The EyeROV TUNA is a compact, high-performance ROV purpose-built for dam and reservoir inspections. With exceptional maneuverability, modular payloads, and rugged design, it thrives in even the most challenging environments—deep water, high turbidity, and narrow confined spaces.

Turning Data Into Insight: The EVAP Platform

Inspection data becomes actionable through EVAP — EyeROV’s Visualization and Analytics Platform that allows operators to:

• Organize and view video/image datasets
• Annotate damage and generate inspection reports
• Compare inspection cycles to track changes over time
• Integrate overlays and metadata for better decision-making

Future-Ready Dam Inspections

ROV-based inspections are no longer a futuristic vision—they’re a modern-day necessity. EyeROV is helping dam operators, engineering teams, and asset managers around the world shift to robotic, data-driven inspection workflows that are safer, faster, and more scalable.

Dams hold water. EyeROV helps you hold confidence. With TUNA ROV and EVAP, underwater inspections are smarter, safer, and ready for the challenges of modern infrastructure.
Learn more about EyeROV’s Dam Inspections.