MidSouth Aggregates implements drone program for consistent asset management. Photo courtesy of Kespry.

Kespry announced Midsouth Aggregates, part of CRH, is using the Kespry drone-based aerial intelligence platform for inventory management and mine planning. With granite and limestone reserves located throughout Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee, Midsouth Aggregates produces a variety of aggregate products.

“Kespry’s drones and software really sped up inventory management,” said Jerry Adkins, senior production manager, Midsouth Aggregates. “Kespry gave us a consistent measuring tool, whereas in the past we’d use other vendors who would do LIDAR and ground surveys. They would come on site, do the flights and it would usually take a couple of weeks to get the data. Then we’d have a different vendor come in later in the year using a different method for measuring.

“We brought it all in house and inventory management became something we could do monthly with more consistency and control,” he added, noting that he now has real-time status of sales yards and pits, as well as the ability to forecast blast tonnages and verify the forecast with a flight of the muck pile once the shot is on the ground. “Kespry is the best innovation I’ve encountered in my 19-year career. It really makes our lives easier. I would recommend it to anyone. Everyone I’ve introduced it to has been blown away.”

Midsouth Aggregates also uses Kespry for comprehensive short-term and long-term mine planning, including granular analysis of pits across its operations.

“Kespry gives us the ability to look at our pits in 2D and 3D,” Adkins said. “The volumetric tools allow us to do short-term and long-term mine planning. As a mining engineer, I found that very useful. Kespry is very user-friendly so we’ve been able to train our plant managers to do the same type of planning. In the past, we’d have a mine planner doing that for us. So, that’s improved the overall outlook of how they manage their pits.”

“We’re incredibly pleased to see how Kespry has helped Midsouth Aggregates optimize its inventory management and mine planning processes,” said George Mathew, CEO, Kespry, adding that the aerial intelligence platform is purpose-built to integrate with the complex workflows of companies like Midsouth Aggregates so they can benefit from real-time reporting and analytics.

Kespry Cloud, which enables companies to access inventory management and mine planning data 24×7 on any device, has also played a major role in creating internal visibility and transparency at Midsouth Aggregates.

“The Kespry Cloud has been awesome,” Adkins said. “I can look at all of our locations in one place and get fast access to all the data. It’s a really great communication tool as well. We use it in meetings with upstream management, contractors and our hourly employees to show them mine plans and real-time photos.”