Drone-Powered ALTA Surveys in Utah

Drone-Powered ALTA Surveys — The Ludlow Advantage

Most Utah surveying firms still produce ALTA surveys the way they did in 1995 — a two- or three-person crew with a total station spending three days on site walking the property, sighting corners, locating improvements, and tracing utilities. We do it differently. Our crews use UAV photogrammetry and aerial surveying as the foundation of nearly every ALTA we produce. The drone captures a centimeter-accurate orthomosaic and 3D point cloud of the entire site in a single flight; ground crews then verify control points and document items the drone can't see (underground utilities, interior building features, deeded improvements).

The practical result for our commercial clients: one day of field work instead of three, sometimes lower fees, and a richer deliverable. The orthomosaic itself is usable downstream by your architect, your civil engineer, and your contractor — eliminating the need to commission a separate aerial. For commercial transactions where every week of delay carries real carrying cost, UAV-led ALTA surveying is the better answer.

Learn more about our UAV aerial surveying capabilities, or jump directly to our drone ALTA survey page for a deeper dive into the methodology.

UAV-Led vs. Traditional ALTA Survey

For most Utah commercial sites — retail, office, industrial, multi-family, mixed-use — UAV-led is the right answer. Where ground-only methods still win: dense urban infill with extensive overhead obstructions (downtown SLC, where line-of-sight from above is limited), and projects where the client specifically requires only on-the-ground methodology. We'll tell you up front which approach fits your specific parcel.

What Changed in the 2026 ALTA/NSPS Standards

If you're a commercial buyer, lender, or title agent ordering ALTA surveys in 2026 and beyond, the practical differences from the 2021 standards are modest but worth understanding. We've already updated our certification language, plat templates, and Table A documentation to comply.

What's the same

• Maximum allowable Relative Positional Precision remains 2 cm (0.07 ft) plus 50 parts per million
• The 21-item Table A structure is unchanged, with the same optional-by-client framework
• Required certification format and language structure
• Pre-survey records research requirements (title commitment, deed, recorded easements)
• Plat sheet size minimums (8½ × 11 inches) and presentation requirements

What's new or refined

• Request must specify "2026 ALTA/NSPS LAND TITLE SURVEY" — clients ordering surveys after February 23, 2026 should explicitly reference the 2026 standards in their request
• Refined treatment of non-fee-simple interests — clearer scoping language for unusual properties (marinas, campgrounds, mobile home parks, mineral interests, leases)
• Tightened underground utility language — Table A Item 11 now provides more explicit guidance on combining client-provided plans with surveyor-observed evidence, and clearer notes about the limits of 811 utility locate accuracy
• Updated imagery provisions — Table A Item 15 (use of imagery) now requires written agreement on imagery source and licensing before field work begins, plus a face-of-plat note explaining source, date, precision, and qualifications — a meaningful update for UAV-based surveys
• Clearer guidance on water boundaries — when a title line is defined by a water boundary, the plat must explicitly note the date of measurement, which attribute was located, and a caveat that the boundary is subject to change
• Explicit access-restriction notes — the plat must now note any areas where physical access within five feet of a boundary was restricted

For most clients, these refinements don't change the deliverable in any visible way. Our internal workflow has been updated; the survey you receive will reference the 2026 standards in the certification, include the new face-of-plat notes where applicable, and otherwise look and function identically to a 2021-standard ALTA. If your title insurer or lender has specific 2026-related questions about a survey we're producing for them, we're happy to walk through exactly how it conforms.

When You Need an ALTA Survey

ALTA surveys are almost always required — or strongly recommended — in these commercial transactions:

Understanding ALTA Table A Items

The defining feature of an ALTA survey is the "Table A" — an optional list of additional items the client can request beyond the baseline survey. Each Table A item adds specific information to the survey. Your title company, lender, or attorney will typically tell you which Table A items they need; we help you choose the right ones if you're unsure.

The most commonly requested Table A items on Utah commercial ALTA surveys:

• Monument setting — the surveyor sets permanent property corner monuments. Standard on most ALTA surveys.
• Address — the site address as it appears on title and tax records.
• Flood zone classification — identifies whether the property sits in a FEMA-designated flood zone and references the applicable FIRM panel.
• Gross land area — total parcel size in acres or square feet, calculated from the surveyed boundary.
• Vertical data (topography) — contour map of the property's elevations and slopes. Important for any project that will involve grading or new construction. UAV-derived; centimeter-accurate.
• Zoning information — a zoning letter from the local jurisdiction summarizing zoning classification and key restrictions.
• Exterior building dimensions — footprint measurements of all buildings at ground level, plus optional square footage and building height. UAV captures full roof and facade detail.
• Substantial site features — parking lots, billboards, pools, landscaping, signage, and any other significant features the client wants documented.
• Parking stalls — total parking count plus handicapped-accessible stalls — a common zoning compliance item.
• Party walls & division walls — documentation of shared walls between this property and adjoining properties.
• Utility locations — locations of water, sewer, gas, electric, and telecom utilities on or serving the property — combined with 811 markings and utility company records.
• Government agency requirements — specific items required by HUD, BLM, or other agencies for property leased on or transferred from government land.
• Adjoining owners — names of all adjoining property owners per current tax records.
• Distance to intersecting streets — distance to the nearest intersection — useful for confirming access and for some zoning compliance questions.

Several less-common Table A items (rectified orthophotography, recent earth-moving evidence, proposed right-of-way changes, wetland markers, offsite easements, professional liability insurance disclosure) are available on request. Rectified orthophotography — Table A Item 21 — is now standard on every Ludlow ALTA survey because our UAV workflow produces it as a byproduct. We'll discuss the full Table A with you during scoping and recommend which items your specific lender and title company will actually want, based on our work with the major Utah title insurers.

ALTA Survey vs. Boundary Survey: Which One Do You Need?

A common question from first-time commercial buyers: "Do I need an ALTA survey or just a boundary survey?" The short answer:

• If a commercial lender or title insurer is in the transaction — you need an ALTA survey. Boundary surveys won't satisfy commercial title insurance underwriting.
• If you're buying or selling commercial property without traditional commercial financing — a boundary survey may be sufficient. Ask your title company.
• If you're a residential buyer — you almost certainly want a boundary survey, not an ALTA. ALTA surveys are commercial documents and overkill for residential transactions.
• If you're a developer or investor doing due diligence — order the ALTA. It's the only survey that documents everything potential lenders, title insurers, and partners might need.

Cost-wise, ALTA surveys typically run 2–5× the cost of a boundary survey on the same parcel — because of the broader scope, the Table A item documentation, and the higher liability standard. The cost is almost always worth it on a commercial transaction, where the survey often unlocks better title insurance terms and reveals issues that would otherwise become post-closing surprises.

Our ALTA Survey Process

Every ALTA survey follows the same five-phase process. With UAV-led methodology, our typical timeline runs 3–4 weeks — about a week faster than ground-only methods on the same parcel.

Utah ALTA Survey Pricing

ALTA survey pricing depends on parcel size, the number of Table A items selected, the complexity of the title commitment, and the number of buildings or improvements on site. UAV-led methodology often produces meaningful cost savings on larger parcels because field time compresses. These are typical Ludlow Engineering ranges:

All quotes are fixed-fee in writing, with scope of work and confirmed Table A list attached. We work directly with your title company to align scope before quoting — no surprises at delivery. For a deeper breakdown of what drives ALTA pricing, see our ALTA survey cost guide.

Multi-State ALTA Coordination

Utah is our home jurisdiction and where most of our ALTA work happens. For commercial portfolios that include properties in other states, we coordinate ALTA surveys across state lines — performing the surveys directly where we're licensed and partnering with licensed surveyors in other states where we're not. The result for the client is a single point of contact, consistent deliverable quality, and one consolidated invoice instead of separately managing five different surveying firms.

Counties & Cities We Serve

Our ALTA crews regularly work across Utah's commercial corridors:

We also work in Davis, Weber, Wasatch, Carbon, Iron, Washington, Juab, and Millard counties. For commercial properties anywhere in Utah, call (435) 623-0897 — we'll quote the work and confirm scope before beginning.

Table A Intake Form — Get a Fixed-Fee Quote

The fastest way to get an accurate ALTA survey quote is to tell us which Table A items your title company, lender, or attorney has requested. Fill out the form below and we'll send a fixed-fee proposal within 1–2 business days, including scope of work, methodology (UAV vs. ground), and timeline.

Not sure which Table A items you need? Leave them blank — we'll review your title commitment and recommend the right scope. If you'd prefer to fill the form out offline and email it to us, you can download the printable Table A worksheet (PDF).

Frequently Asked Questions