One-Day Fieldwork
A parcel that takes a ground crew two or three days is typically flown and verified in one.
Drone ALTA Survey in Utah
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Drone ALTA Survey
UAV-led ALTA/NSPS · FAA Part 107 · 2026 standards
Drone ALTA Surveys in Utah
ALTA/NSPS Land Title Surveys built on UAV photogrammetry: one day on site instead of several, the whole property mapped, and an orthomosaic and 3D point cloud included. From $3,000.
The short version:
a drone ALTA is the same signed and sealed ALTA/NSPS survey your lender
and title company require. What changes is the fieldwork. The drone maps
the entire site while our ground crew handles monuments and anything the
camera can't see, and you get a richer survey package in about 3–4 weeks.
1 day
Typical fieldwork on site
3–4 weeks
Typical total delivery
Orthomosaic
Included with every survey
$3,000+
Fixed-fee pricing
Same survey, different fieldwork
What Is a Drone ALTA Survey?
A drone ALTA survey is an ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey produced mainly with UAV photogrammetry instead of ground-only measurement. A ground crew still recovers monuments and documents utility evidence and items under roofs or trees. The boundary determination, Table A items and surveyor's certification are exactly what a traditional ALTA delivers. You also receive the orthomosaic and point cloud, which your design team can use directly.
01 · The advantages
Why UAV-Led ALTA Works for Commercial Sites
Six practical reasons commercial buyers, lenders and developers choose a drone ALTA.
The Whole Site, Not Samples
Every stall, swale and rooftop is captured, not just the measured points.
Denser Elevation Data
Vertical relief comes from a dense point cloud your engineer can design from.
Orthomosaic Included
A measurable aerial image for your architect, engineer or leasing team.
Less Crew Exposure
Active industrial sites, traffic and steep ground are covered from the air.
Fewer Return Trips
Late title-company questions can often be answered from the flight data.
Air and ground together
The Drone Maps. The Crew Verifies.
While the drone flies the site, typically 20–40 minutes per flight on commercial parcels, the ground crew sets control, recovers monuments and documents what the camera can't see. One visit covers both.
02 · Side by side
UAV-Led vs. Traditional ALTA
How the two methods compare on a typical Utah commercial parcel.
| Aspect | Traditional Ground | UAV-Led (Ludlow) |
|---|---|---|
| Field time, 5-acre site | 2–3 days | 1 day |
| Field time, 20-acre site | 4–6 days | 1.5–2 days |
| Total timeline | 4–6 weeks | 3–4 weeks |
| Topography | Spot elevations at intervals | Dense point cloud, full site |
| Parking count | Walked and tallied | Counted from orthomosaic, verified on site |
| Aerial imagery | Separate cost, if offered | Orthomosaic included |
| Late scope changes | Crew returns to site | Often answered from flight data |
| Design deliverables | 2D plat | Plat + orthomosaic + point cloud |
03 · Honest scoping
When a Ground Survey Is the Better Answer.
A drone isn't right for every site. We evaluate each parcel during scoping and tell you which method fits before we quote.
Dense urban infill: tall buildings, overhead lines or signs block the view.
Heavy canopy: corners and improvements hidden under trees.
Ground-only requirements: some lenders or agencies require it.
Restricted airspace: where authorization isn't practical.
Very small parcels: setup time can outweigh the savings.
Our promise: we recommend the method that fits, not the one we prefer.
04 · How it works
Our Drone ALTA Process
Five phases, typically 3–4 weeks depending on parcel complexity, weather and title review.
1
Scope & Table A
Title commitment and lender list reviewed; method confirmed. 2–5 business days.
2
Records Research
Deeds, plats, easements and Schedule B exceptions analyzed. 1–2 weeks.
3
Flight & Ground Work
Control set, site flown, monuments and utilities verified. 1 day.
4
Processing & Drafting
Orthomosaic and point cloud built; plat drafted and sealed. 1–2 weeks.
5
Title Review & Delivery
Revisions with the title company, then final files. About 1 week.
05 · Accuracy
How Accuracy Is Controlled
Three systems work together, and every survey documents the validation.
RTK / PPK Positioning
Survey-grade position recorded with every image.
Ground Control Points
Set and measured by our crew, tied to the national reference system.
Photogrammetric Processing
Orthomosaic and point cloud built and checked against control.
ALTA/NSPS Precision
Validated to 2 cm + 50 ppm relative positional precision at 95% confidence.
06 · Table A coverage
What the Drone Captures, and What the Crew Captures
One site visit covers both, so nothing on your Table A list is left for a return trip.
Buildings & Footprints
Roofs, footprints and structures captured at full resolution.
Parking & Striping
Stalls counted from the orthomosaic and spot-checked on site.
Vertical Relief
Contours from a dense point cloud across the whole parcel.
Monuments
Existing corners recovered and missing corners set.
Utility Evidence
Manholes, valves, meters and markings documented in person.
Hidden Items
Anything under canopy, overhangs or inside the building envelope.
07 · 2026 pricing
Drone ALTA Survey Pricing in Utah
Typically the same as or less than a ground-only ALTA. Every quote is a fixed fee with the scope and Table A list attached.
| Project Type | Typical Scope | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Small commercial parcel | Under 2 acres, single building, basic Table A | $3,000–$5,500 |
| Medium commercial parcel | 2–10 acres, multiple buildings | $5,000–$9,500 |
| Large commercial parcel | 10–40 acres, complex improvements | $8,000–$15,000 |
| Industrial / multi-tenant | Complex easements and utilities | $6,000–$20,000 |
| Extended Table A items | Beyond a standard list | + $1,000–$4,000 |
| Rush delivery | Expedited in 2–3 weeks | + 20–35% |
08 · Where we fly
UAV-Led ALTA Across Utah.
Drone ALTAs fit suburban and rural commercial parcels best, along the Wasatch Front, in Utah County and throughout central Utah.
Common Project Areas
Salt Lake County: suburban commercial sites
Juab County: Nephi and the I-15 corridor
Sanpete County: Ephraim, Manti, Mount Pleasant
09 · Related
More on ALTA & Drone Surveying
Go deeper before you order.
Service
ALTA / NSPS Surveys
Our full ALTA service for lenders and title.
CostALTA Survey Costs
How Table A items set the price.
Standards2026 ALTA/NSPS Standards
What changed and what it means for you.
DronesIntro to UAV Surveying
How drone surveys work.
CommercialCommercial Survey Costs
Costs by transaction type.
TechnologySurveying Technology
GNSS, robotic stations, drones and scanning.
10 · Direct answers
Drone ALTA Survey FAQ
What buyers, lenders and title officers ask most.
Will my title company and lender accept a drone ALTA survey?
Yes. ALTA/NSPS standards set accuracy and content requirements, not the field method. A UAV-led survey that meets those requirements and is signed and sealed by a Utah-licensed Professional Land Surveyor is the same ALTA/NSPS Land Title Survey.
How is accuracy controlled on a drone ALTA?
RTK/PPK positioning on the aircraft, ground control points set and measured by our crew, and photogrammetric processing checked against that control. Results are validated against the ALTA/NSPS relative positional precision standard of 2 cm plus 50 ppm at 95% confidence.
Does the drone capture every Table A item?
Most of them, often in more detail than ground methods: buildings, parking, vertical relief and site features. Items that need ground work, such as monuments, underground utility evidence and party walls, are handled by our ground crew during the same site visit.
Is a drone ALTA more expensive?
Usually not. Field-time savings offset the equipment and processing, and on larger parcels a UAV-led survey is often less expensive. The orthomosaic is included.
How long does a drone ALTA survey take?
Typically 3–4 weeks from contract to final delivery: about 1–2 weeks of records research, one day on site, 1–2 weeks of processing and drafting, and title review. Ground-only ALTAs on the same parcel typically take 4–6 weeks.
What if my site isn't a good fit for a drone?
We'll tell you during scoping. Dense urban infill, heavy tree canopy and projects that require ground-only methods are better served by a traditional survey, and we'll quote it that way.
Are your drone pilots licensed?
Yes. Our pilots hold FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificates, and every flight follows Part 107 rules, including airspace authorization where required.
What is the orthomosaic and how can I use it?
It's a georeferenced aerial image of the entire property, corrected for distortion so you can measure on it. We deliver it as a GeoTIFF your architect, engineer, contractor or leasing team can use.
UAV-Led ALTA/NSPS · Licensed Utah Surveyors · Since 1975
Ready for a Drone ALTA Survey?
Send the property, the title commitment and the lender's Table A list. We'll confirm whether a drone fits and send a fixed-fee proposal.
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