As Covid hit the United States, Visionary Aerials was in the midst of a pivot with such immaculate timing that it couldn’t have been better planned by the pen of the universe herself. We started training in Chicago in February; it was a true test to begin working in a new field in the cold of the Lake Michigan winter weather. We had begun the pivot into telecommunications inspection during exactly the right time as well as moving into a 29ft travel trailer on a permanent basis. Our home on wheels allows us a home office wherever we work. This was a game changer. After doing hotels and airbnb’s, it just isn’t the same as having your own home with you on the road. This home on the road supported us in making healthy choices in the food we ate as well as limited our exposure to the virus that was running rampant throughout the United States. We worked in several Covid hotspots without incident. While most of the creative industry was at a virtual standstill, Visionary Aerials was given a letter from Homeland Security Cyber Command that states “these essential infrastructure workers are not to be stopped by any curfew, please assist them in keeping America’s communications online”. We are proud to service the USA during these trying times.
Visionary Aerials home office, Pacific North West, USA.
Visionary Aerials began as an independent contractor working for a software as a service (SaaS) company which delivers site analysis to telecom companies large and small. The feast or famine model began to shift as we trained and worked on the nations telecom infrastructure. At one point our team worked for 30 days straight with no breaks. An additonal marathon put us working for 3 months with little to no rest. Although exhausting, it was rewarding work that took all of our energy and focus.
We traveled and worked in California, Colorado, Illinois, Michigan, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Texas and Nevada. It was a perspective into the nations telecom backbone that will continue to guide our work in the future. The knowledge of the communication grid and how it often overlaps with many elements in our lives is a vital understanding. It was a complex task to plan a weeks worth of work with site specific requirements such as schools which often required after hours access or weekend access when campus was empty. Other sites required 48 hour notice to the power and electric companies. Planning our route required communicating with many different stake-holders with a professional and time sensitive manner.
Our realization after traveling and working many different locations is that the telecommunications grid is everywhere. Its on mountain tops, churches, schools, backyards, graveyards, rooftops, airports, and military bases. Please check out the images below which are a small sampling of the places and experiences as we traversed the United States. These images are approvable due to the limited or non-existent client infrastructure.
Some sites required miles of driving winding roads and 4WD was required. Visionary Aerials, Navajo Nation, New Mexico, USA.
Weather could often be a factor, snowy conditions exist on site. Visionary Aerials, Big Bear, California, USA
Working in the elements on the rooftop of the Crowne Plaza hotel exposes workers to the suns radiation which is more powerful than the cellular technology we were inspecting. Visionary Aerials, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
Telecom sites were often stealthed into building designs such as this clock tower. Visionary Aerials, Bellflower, California, USA
Parking in the shade, even if it was scarce was important to beat the heat. Visionary Aerials, San Jose, California, USA
Telecom usually chooses the highest points available. Here is another stealth site at the back of a fire department, interesting installation on the top of the fire training tower. Visionary Aerials, Bay Area, California, USA
Scenic locations were a favorite part of the job. Here we overlook Lake Tahoe on a project for a smaller telecom. Visionary Aerials, Lake Tahoe, California, USA
Birds eye view of a top level on a parking structure. The site security would not let us to the top even though we had clearance due to these doughnut spinning car enthusiasts. Visionary Aerials, Stockton, Ca, USA
Water towers were a favorite telecom location offering vertical above & overlooking the landscape. Visionary Aerials, Los Angeles, California, USA
Working under high voltage lines in the Golden State requires precision flying to avoid a shocking mishap. Visionary Aerials, San Jose, California, USA
Often the landscapes of man and animals converged. Here a brightly colored song bird inhabits a stealth palm tree seen in the next image. Visionary Aerials, Bay Area, California, USA
Telecom carriers often try to emulate nature but most often do not get close to what mother nature designed herself. Stealth Palm tree, Visionary Aerials, Bay Area, California, USA
Our inspection journeys took us to the places between the tracks surrounded by barbed wire. Visionary Aerials, Bay Area, California, USA
We visited many interesting sites while working to inspect America’s telecommunications grid. Here is a paper & book recycling center. So many titles going to the shredder to make way for the next wave of literature. Visionary Aerials, Bay Area, California, USA.
Rooftops are a favorite perspective. Elevate your perspective and see life in a new way. Visionary Aerials, Pasadena, California, USA.
Looking down from above on a senior living center, we see the future from above. Its bright from some perspectives and dark if you are looking in different places. Visionary Aerials, Sacramento, California, USA.
We are in and out, up and down many stairs, through gates with hidden keys. This is a scavenger hunt AKA telecommunications inspection. Visionary Aerials, Los Angeles, California, USA.
The favorite case study of a complex site. Grand Central Station in Chicago. The sites notes were old so the team had to discover the right area which was in the back of the basement, past the baggage handling center in a room covered in acid. Visionary Aerials, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Our northernmost inspection site. It was in Marquette Michigan two plus hours drive away from the rest of the cluster. Inspecting sites remote from the rest of the project required precision and no mistakes. Often we would upload and Quality Check (QC) on site to ensure a perfect deliverable. Visionary Aerials, Marquette, Michigan, USA.