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Postgraduate DiplomaAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Diploma in UAS for Critical Infrastructures and Utilities

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in UAS for critical infrastructure and utilities. 8 modules covering power grid, civil, transport, oil & gas and water inspection, operation planning, data processing and facility protection under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and the CER and NIS2 Directives, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Identify applications of UAS in critical infrastructure.

02

Plan power grid inspections with suitable sensors.

03

Inspect civil infrastructure using photogrammetry and LiDAR.

04

Operate in industrial environments with specific hazards.

05

Plan BVLOS operations in line with SORA and standard scenarios.

06

Process inspection data and prioritise maintenance.

07

Protect infrastructure against unauthorised drones.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Inspection drone pilots.
  • Infrastructure inspection engineers.
  • Geospatial data analysts.
  • UAS operations coordinators.
  • Asset maintenance managers.
  • Critical infrastructure security technicians.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to join power companies and utilities.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft)
  • Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (CER) (resilience of critical entities)
  • Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2) (cybersecurity across the Union)
  • Spanish Law 8/2011 (protection of critical infrastructure)
  • JARUS SORA 2.5 (specific operations risk assessment)
  • Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX) (equipment for explosive atmospheres)
  • Royal Decree 517/2024 (Spanish legal framework for civil UAS operations)
  • ISO 55000 (asset management)
  • DJI Terra
  • Pix4Dmapper
  • FLIR Thermal Studio
  • ArcGIS Pro
  • TerraScan
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Sectors: energy, water, transport and telecommunications
  2. 1.2Advantages over traditional methods
  3. 1.3Types of UAS for inspection
  4. 1.4Payloads: RGB, thermal, LiDAR and gas
  5. 1.5The CER Directive on critical entities
  6. 1.6Physical security of infrastructure
  7. 1.7Coordination with the facility owner
  8. 1.8Success stories in utilities
  9. 1.9Technical and operational limitations
  10. 1.10Case study: business case for power line inspection
  1. 2.1High-voltage lines and components
  2. 2.2Visual inspection of insulators and fittings
  3. 2.3Thermography of connections
  4. 2.4Corona effect with UV cameras
  5. 2.5LiDAR for vegetation clearances
  6. 2.6Substations and their risks
  7. 2.7Electromagnetic interference in flight
  8. 2.8Safety distances to conductors
  9. 2.9Inspection of wind and solar farms
  10. 2.10Lab: thermographic analysis of a substation
  1. 3.1Bridges and structures
  2. 3.2Under-deck inspection
  3. 3.3Tunnels and confined spaces
  4. 3.4Dams and slopes
  5. 3.5Roads and railways
  6. 3.6AI-based crack detection
  7. 3.7Photogrammetry for digital twins
  8. 3.8Bridge inspection regulations
  9. 3.9Integration with asset management systems
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: photogrammetric model of a bridge pier
  1. 4.1Inspection of oil and gas pipelines
  2. 4.2Methane leak detection
  3. 4.3Inspection of tanks and stacks
  4. 4.4Water treatment plants
  5. 4.5Distribution networks and leaks
  6. 4.6Explosive atmospheres and ATEX
  7. 4.7Drones inside tanks
  8. 4.8Offshore inspection
  9. 4.9Environment and emissions
  10. 4.10Case study: methane detection at a plant
  1. 5.1SORA risk assessment
  2. 5.2STS scenarios and authorisations
  3. 5.3Coordinating permits with the owner
  4. 5.4Flight plan and capture patterns
  5. 5.5Weather conditions
  6. 5.6Linear BVLOS operations
  7. 5.7Docked drones (drone-in-a-box)
  8. 5.8Emergency response
  9. 5.9Staff training
  10. 5.10Workshop: BVLOS flight plan for a 30 km line
  1. 6.1Inspection data workflow
  2. 6.2Photogrammetry and orthomosaics
  3. 6.3LiDAR point clouds
  4. 6.4Defect classification with computer vision
  5. 6.5Radiometric thermography
  6. 6.6Condition reports
  7. 6.7GIS integration
  8. 6.8Maintenance prioritisation
  9. 6.9Data quality and traceability
  10. 6.10Lab: defect detection with a YOLO model
  1. 7.1Unauthorised drones over infrastructure
  2. 7.2Drone detection systems
  3. 7.3Legal framework for countermeasures
  4. 7.4Cybersecurity of inspection data
  5. 7.5Confidentiality of critical infrastructure
  6. 7.6Coordination protocols with law enforcement
  7. 7.7Critical operator protection plans
  8. 7.8Vulnerability assessment
  9. 7.9Incident management
  10. 7.10Practical exercise: protection plan against unauthorised drones
  1. 8.1Selection of the infrastructure
  2. 8.2Analysis of inspection requirements
  3. 8.3Selection of UAS and payloads
  4. 8.4Operational plan and SORA
  5. 8.5Data processing workflow
  6. 8.6Analysis of results
  7. 8.7Resulting maintenance plan
  8. 8.8Economic analysis
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so the programme fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is DJI Terra, Pix4Dmapper, FLIR Thermal Studio, ArcGIS Pro and TerraScan, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: power line inspection with thermography and LiDAR, preparation of a BVLOS flight plan for linear infrastructure and automatic defect detection with computer vision. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.

Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Directive (EU) 2022/2557 (CER), Directive (EU) 2022/2555 (NIS2), Spanish Law 8/2011, JARUS SORA 2.5, Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX), Royal Decree 517/2024, ISO 55000.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and the CER (EU) 2022/2557 and NIS2 (EU) 2022/2555 Directives applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:DJI Terra, Pix4Dmapper, FLIR Thermal Studio, ArcGIS Pro and TerraScan, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:An infrastructure inspection project covering requirements, UAS and payload selection, operational plan and SORA, data processing, maintenance plan and economic analysis, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Infrastructure and requirements
Select the infrastructure and analyse its inspection requirements.
UAS and payloads
Select the UAS and payloads for the inspection.
Operational plan and SORA
Prepare the operational plan and its SORA risk assessment.
Data and maintenance
Define the data processing workflow and derive the maintenance plan and economic analysis.
Final project
An infrastructure inspection project covering requirements, UAS and payload selection, operational plan and SORA, data processing, maintenance plan and economic analysis, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Inspection drone pilotInfrastructure inspection engineerGeospatial data analystUAS operations coordinatorAsset maintenance managerCritical infrastructure security technician
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not required.
  • An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme software.
  • English sufficient to read technical standards.

Ready to start?

Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with DJI Terra, Pix4Dmapper, FLIR Thermal Studio, ArcGIS Pro and TerraScan, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final project. It is SEIUM's own qualification, not an official state degree; its recognition depends on the programme completed and the regulations of each country.

Yes. Modules passed are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the programme software and English sufficient to read technical standards.

Start dates are set by SEIUM's faculty for each intake. Our admissions team will confirm the next available date when you apply.

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