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Article 6 1
Industries
Knowledge Base

May 12, 2025

Autonomous drones cut costs in infrastructure inspections

In 2025, infrastructure inspection is being redefined by a new generation of autonomous drones. These systems – often packaged as “drone-in-a-box” solutions – are enabling asset managers to conduct frequent, high-quality inspections with minimal human intervention, lower costs, and vastly improved safety outcomes. The Rise of Drone-in-a-Box Systems Unlike traditional drone operations that require on-site pilots, autonomous inspection systems are pre-programmed to launch, fly specific routes, and return to a charging dock without human input. These setups are being deployed at industrial facilities, power plants, bridges, and other high-value assets where regular inspection is critical. Paired with AI-powered analytics, these drones can process imagery in real time to detect anomalies such as cracks, corrosion, or vegetation encroachment. This allows maintenance teams to act swiftly before issues escalate, avoiding downtime or catastrophic failures. Advantages for Infrastructure Operators Autonomous drone inspections offer multiple advantages: Companies like Dow have reported significant reductions in labor costs and human risk after integrating autonomous drones into their asset management programs. Why Now? In 2024, the deployment of self-flying drones surged as regulatory frameworks matured and technology stabilized. Market forecasts project a 20% year-over-year growth in drone-in-a-box adoption between 2024 and 2025. With companies under pressure to improve operational safety and efficiency, and with AI detection models becoming more accurate and accessible, the timing is ideal. Infrastructure operators that rely on regular visual inspections – from utility firms to oil and gas plants – are actively exploring automation to enhance performance. A New Standard for Inspections The shift to autonomous inspection drones is not just about convenience – it’s about setting a new standard in asset monitoring. By leveraging drone platforms that can fly pre-set missions, capture detailed imagery, and feed that data into enterprise asset systems or maintenance dashboards, operators gain a complete, up-to-date view of their assets. Looking ahead, the integration of AI with historical inspection data will enable predictive maintenance – identifying weak points before they become failures. Combined with growing BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) capabilities, this will make wide-area, unattended infrastructure monitoring a reality. For providers like FAST, who already specialize in aerial data acquisition and compliance with FAA Part 107, this evolution presents opportunities to offer fully automated inspection services. This includes hardware deployment, routine scheduling, and actionable insights that clients can use to minimize downtime and maximize asset life.

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Aerial view of an sugar plant adjacent to a wooded area and pond, with visible stockpiles and facility infrastructure
Industries
Case Studies

May 9, 2025

Clewiston sugar plant relies on monthly drone surveys

Each month, FAST delivers precise stockpile data to the Clewiston sugar plant—supporting a multi-billion-dollar supply chain with sub-2% inventory error and zero survey-related delays across five years of operation. Introduction The Clewiston sugar plant plays a critical role in U.S. food production, processing massive quantities of raw sugar. Accurate, recurring volume data is essential to avoid costly overages or shortages. FAST supports this need with monthly drone surveys, ensuring fast, compliant, and reliable stockpile intelligence. How can consistent, sub-2% volume accuracy improve planning for such a vital facility? Problem / Background Operating at the scale of millions of cubic yards, the Clewiston plant cannot afford inventory blind spots. Sugar stockpiles must be measured with precision to guide processing volumes and maintain supply chain continuity. Traditional survey methods introduced unacceptable latency and variability. A modern solution was needed—one that could deliver reliable data on a rigid monthly schedule, regardless of weather or plant activity. Monthly photogrammetry at industrial scale To support this high-stakes operation, FAST implemented a recurring drone program using RTK photogrammetry. Every month, a complete survey of the sugar piles is flown, processed, and validated within 48 hours. This ensures that plant managers always have access to up-to-date volume data and trend graphs. Our unified digital platform delivers these insights with exportable reports, historical comparisons, and interactive visuals—all from a browser. Results / Benefits Over five years, FAST has provided uninterrupted monthly data that supports inventory planning, purchasing, and audit readiness. As a result, the Clewiston plant has eliminated data-related production delays, reduced waste, and improved coordination across logistics and finance teams. Conclusion The Clewiston sugar plant demonstrates how precise, automated drone surveys can transform industrial inventory workflows. FAST’s monthly photogrammetry ensures data-driven decisions, enabling U.S. sugar production to meet demand with confidence.

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High-resolution aerial view showing complex terrain patterns, sand features, vegetation patches, and water drainage across a golf course site under development
Industries
Case Studies

May 9, 2025

Drone topographic mapping accelerates Myakka golf project

FAST performed a full 600-acre topographic survey for a golf course in Myakka, delivering net cut/fill analysis, contour mapping, and updated imagery within 1.5 weeks—proving the value of drone mapping in fast-paced design-build scenarios. Introduction When a golf course development team in Myakka, FL, needed full-site mapping for a 600-acre project, they faced an aggressive timeline and diverse stakeholder needs. FAST responded with topographic drone surveys, aerial imagery, and volumetric calculations. How can fast, high-resolution mapping accelerate both design and construction in complex terrain? Problem / Background  Large-scale land development projects often suffer from delays due to survey bottlenecks. In this case, the client faced a tight deadline and required accurate cut/fill data to coordinate course layout and material movement. Traditional surveys would have taken weeks and required multiple handoffs—slowing down both design and site work phases. Stakeholders, from architects to contractors, needed consistent, high-resolution data delivered fast. Drone-based mapping with multi-stakeholder outputs FAST executed the Myakka survey using high-end multirotor drones, RTK geo-positioning, and a dedicated project pipeline to deliver topographic maps, cut/fill calculations, and current aerial visuals. Our unified approach allowed us to serve both the design team—who used our contours and elevation data—and the site work contractors—who needed accurate volume estimates for material transport. Our ability to combine capture, QA, and export in one automated workflow ensured delivery of all datasets in less than 1.5 weeks. Results / Benefits The client’s design team used FAST’s contour and elevation models to optimize the golf course layout and drainage strategy. Meanwhile, contractors leveraged cut/fill maps to minimize material movement and costs. All parties received usable data within a compressed 1.5-week window, keeping the project on schedule. Conclusion By delivering high-resolution drone mapping for a 600-acre golf course in under two weeks, FAST demonstrated the power of topographic intelligence at speed. From design layout to excavation strategy, this project exemplifies how modern survey methods keep projects moving.

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Drone image of an active asphalt facility with visible stockpiles, smoke-emitting machinery, and surrounding forested areas supporting industrial operations
Industries
Mining

May 9, 2025

Drone stockpile surveys streamline Pensacola asphalt operations

Recurring drone surveys at the Pensacola Asphalt Plant ensure precise material inventory and airspace compliance. FAST’s data portal and expertise support efficient operations in a highly regulated flight zone. Introduction  At the Pensacola Asphalt Plant, managing stockpile volumes near restricted airspace poses daily challenges. Situated near an international airport and Air Force base, the site demands precise aerial operations. FAST tackled this with advanced drone surveying, offering inventory precision and full regulatory compliance. Our unified data portal enhances accessibility, empowering site managers with fast, reliable insights. How do you ensure high-accuracy volume data without disrupting safety or compliance near controlled airspace? Problem / Backgroun Managing material stockpiles near restricted airspace involves significant operational risk and complexity. Within this highly sensitive airspace, traditional survey methods are cumbersome and prone to delays. Compliance with FAA regulations and coordination with local airspace authorities is essential. Meanwhile, the plant’s operations require accurate, recurring inventory data to manage aggregate flow, meet production schedules, and prevent costly overages or shortages. This dual challenge—regulatory and operational—called for a partner with both technical and procedural expertise. Recurring drone surveys with full airspace compliance FAST deployed a combination of RTK-enabled drones and certified FAA Part 107 pilots to execute precise stockpile surveys on a recurring schedule. With our expertise in controlled airspace coordination, we handled all waiver processes and flight permissions, minimizing disruption to the plant’s operations. The team ensured quick turnarounds by combining advanced data processing with streamlined upload-to-portal integration, allowing site managers to view results within hours after flights. All data—including volume reports and orthomosaics—was accessible through our secure web-based viewer. Results / Benefits  Thanks to FAST’s recurring drone services, the Pensacola Asphalt Plant improved both efficiency and compliance. Material miscalculations were reduced, and the reliable tracking enabled better resource planning and cost control. Regulatory delays became a non-issue due to proactive airspace management. This end-to-end approach has saved the client time and money while streamlining operational decisions via immediate access to historical data and trends. Conclusion Recurring drone surveys from FAST are transforming how material plants manage stockpile data in complex airspaces. With precise volume measurements and seamless regulatory handling, the Pensacola Asphalt Plant enjoys reliable insights and smoother operations.

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