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.

• Volume error under 2% validated across surveys  
• Processing completed within 2 days of each flight  
• Trend charts and comparisons aid forecasting and audits

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.

• Time reduced from **2–3 weeks** to **48-hour turnaround**  
• Accuracy improved from **~5% estimates** to **sub-2% volumetrics**  
• Cost savings of **~20 %** via reduced write-offs and improved planning 

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.