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Postgraduate DiplomaAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Diploma in UAS Remote Sensing for Precision Agriculture

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in UAS remote sensing for precision agriculture. 8 modules covering agricultural remote sensing, sensors, flight planning, image processing, vegetation indices, advanced analytics and variable-rate prescription under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 and Directive 2009/128/EC, 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

Understand the principles of remote sensing applied to crops.

02

Select and calibrate sensors for agricultural applications.

03

Plan agricultural flights with radiometric and geometric quality.

04

Process images to obtain reflectance orthomosaics.

05

Calculate vegetation indices and agronomic variables.

06

Apply machine learning techniques to crop analytics.

07

Produce prescription maps for variable-rate application.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Precision agriculture technicians.
  • Agricultural drone pilots.
  • Remote sensing analysts.
  • Digital agronomy advisers.
  • Agronomists specialising in data.
  • Agritech consultants.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to work in arable farming.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft)
  • Directive 2009/128/EC (sustainable use of pesticides)
  • Royal Decree 1311/2012 (Spanish framework for the sustainable use of plant protection products)
  • Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 (CAP) (Common Agricultural Policy strategic plans)
  • ISO 11783 (ISOBUS) (tractor–implement communication)
  • ISO 19115 (geographic metadata)
  • Royal Decree 517/2024 (Spanish legal framework for civil UAS operations)
  • Pix4Dfields
  • Agisoft Metashape
  • QGIS
  • Google Earth Engine
  • DJI Terra
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Spatial and temporal variability of crops
  2. 1.2The precision agriculture cycle
  3. 1.3Platforms: satellite, aircraft and drone
  4. 1.4Advantages and limitations of drones
  5. 1.5Radiation–vegetation interaction
  6. 1.6Spectral signature of vegetation
  7. 1.7Applications in arable and woody crops
  8. 1.8Common Agricultural Policy and digitalisation
  9. 1.9State of the sector in Spain
  10. 1.10Case study: satellite vs drone comparison in a vineyard
  1. 2.1RGB cameras
  2. 2.2Multispectral cameras
  3. 2.3Hyperspectral sensors
  4. 2.4Thermal cameras
  5. 2.5LiDAR for crop structure
  6. 2.6Irradiance sensors
  7. 2.7Radiometric calibration
  8. 2.8Reflectance panels
  9. 2.9Sensor selection by objective
  10. 2.10Lab: radiometric calibration with a reference panel
  1. 3.1Spatial resolution and flight altitude
  2. 3.2Overlaps and flight patterns
  3. 3.3Solar time and lighting conditions
  4. 3.4Ground control points
  5. 3.5RTK and PPK
  6. 3.6Weather and wind
  7. 3.7Flight regulations in rural areas
  8. 3.8Campaign logistics
  9. 3.9Capture quality
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: multispectral flight plan for a plot
  1. 4.1Orthomosaics and digital models
  2. 4.2Radiometric correction
  3. 4.3Geometric correction
  4. 4.4Reflectance mosaicking
  5. 4.5Digital surface models and crop height
  6. 4.6Soil and vegetation segmentation
  7. 4.7Formats and georeferencing
  8. 4.8Quality control
  9. 4.9Automated workflows
  10. 4.10Lab: reflectance orthomosaic in Pix4Dfields
  1. 5.1NDVI and its limitations
  2. 5.2NDRE, GNDVI and SAVI
  3. 5.3CWSI water stress indices
  4. 5.4Nitrogen estimation
  5. 5.5Leaf area index
  6. 5.6Disease and pest detection
  7. 5.7Plant counting
  8. 5.8Yield estimation
  9. 5.9Validation with field sampling
  10. 5.10Practical exercise: NDRE map and zoning
  1. 6.1Supervised crop classification
  2. 6.2Machine learning with Random Forest
  3. 6.3Convolutional networks for detection
  4. 6.4Multi-temporal time series
  5. 6.5Fusion of drone and satellite data
  6. 6.6Crop models
  7. 6.7Uncertainty of estimates
  8. 6.8Geostatistical analysis and kriging
  9. 6.9Agricultural data platforms
  10. 6.10Lab: weed classification with machine learning
  1. 7.1Management zoning
  2. 7.2Prescription maps
  3. 7.3Variable-rate fertilisation
  4. 7.4Precision irrigation
  5. 7.5Spraying with drones
  6. 7.6Regulations on plant protection product application
  7. 7.7Integration with ISOBUS machinery
  8. 7.8Economic evaluation
  9. 7.9Sustainability and input reduction
  10. 7.10Workshop: nitrogen prescription map
  1. 8.1Selection of the crop and plot
  2. 8.2Agronomic objective
  3. 8.3Flight plan and sensors
  4. 8.4Image processing
  5. 8.5Calculation of indices and variables
  6. 8.6Analysis of results
  7. 8.7Prescription map
  8. 8.8Economic evaluation
  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 Pix4Dfields, Agisoft Metashape, QGIS, Google Earth Engine and DJI Terra, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: multispectral flights and vegetation index calculation, preparation of variable-rate prescription maps and crop classification with machine learning. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final integrative project.

Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Directive 2009/128/EC, Royal Decree 1311/2012, Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 (CAP), ISO 11783 (ISOBUS), ISO 19115, Royal Decree 517/2024.

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, Directive 2009/128/EC and Royal Decree 1311/2012 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Pix4Dfields, Agisoft Metashape, QGIS, Google Earth Engine and DJI Terra, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:An agricultural remote sensing project, from crop and plot selection and flight plan to image processing, index calculation, prescription map and economic evaluation, 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.

Crop and objective
Select the crop and plot and set the agronomic objective.
Flight plan and sensors
Plan the flight and choose the sensors.
Processing and indices
Process the images and calculate the indices and variables.
Prescription and economics
Analyse the results, produce the prescription map and evaluate it economically.
Final project
An agricultural remote sensing project, from crop and plot selection and flight plan to image processing, index calculation, prescription map and economic evaluation, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Precision agriculture technicianAgricultural drone pilotRemote sensing analystDigital agronomy adviserData-specialist agronomistAgritech consultant
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 Pix4Dfields, Agisoft Metashape, QGIS, Google Earth Engine and DJI Terra, 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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