Urban Temporary Shelter Design Course
Online course of 300 h in Urban Temporary Shelter Design. 6 modules covering Sphere Standards: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response, Royal Decree 314/2006 Technical Building Code (DB-SI and DB-SUA) and QGIS. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Take the controls.
Run a real engineering trade-off from this programme. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.
What you will be able to do
Understand the typologies and phases of temporary accommodation after a disaster.
Select safe sites through multi-criteria analysis.
Design dignified, accessible and safe shelters.
Size water, sanitation and energy for collective accommodation.
Apply the Sphere Standards to the urban context.
Organise the operation and management of a shelter.
Plan the transition towards provisional accommodation solutions.
Who it's for
- Civil protection technician looking to specialise in Urban Temporary Shelter Design.
- Emergency architect looking to specialise in Urban Temporary Shelter Design.
- Humanitarian shelter coordinator looking to specialise in Urban Temporary Shelter Design.
- Emergency social services technician looking to specialise in Urban Temporary Shelter Design.
- Emergency logistics specialist looking to specialise in Urban Temporary Shelter Design.
- International cooperation consultant looking to specialise in Urban Temporary Shelter Design.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter civil protection.
What you'll work with
- Sphere Standards: Humanitarian Charter and Minimum Standards in Humanitarian Response
- Royal Decree 314/2006 Technical Building Code (DB-SI and DB-SUA)
- Royal Decree 393/2007 Basic Self-Protection Standard
- ISO 22395 Guidelines for supporting vulnerable persons in an emergency
- Royal Decree 3/2023 technical-sanitary criteria for drinking water
- Royal Decree 1027/2007 Regulation on Thermal Installations in Buildings (RITE)
- Royal Decree 842/2002 Low-Voltage Electrotechnical Regulation
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Typologies: shelter, collective refuge, provisional accommodation1.2Phases of accommodation after a disaster1.3Sphere Standards for shelter and settlements1.4Global Shelter Cluster guidelines1.5Needs of urban displaced populations1.6Case experiences: Lorca, La Palma, Turkey 20231.7Cooling shelters against extreme heat1.8Use of existing facilities as shelters1.9Advance planning of municipal shelters1.10Case study: accommodation needs after an earthquake
2.1Safety criteria against hazards2.2Accessibility and transport connections2.3Availability of basic services2.4Sports centres, schools and exhibition halls2.5Capacity and floor area per person2.6Multi-criteria analysis with GIS2.7Land ownership and permits2.8Impact on surrounding urban life2.9Reversibility of space use2.10Practical: multi-criteria site selection in QGIS
3.1Zoning: sleeping, eating, hygiene, care3.2Privacy, families and protection from violence3.3Universal accessibility in the shelter3.4Modular and prefabricated systems3.5Lightweight structures and emergency tents3.6Thermal envelope and hygrothermal comfort3.7Ventilation and indoor air quality3.8Fire safety in collective accommodation3.9Assembly and transport times3.10Workshop: floor layout of a shelter hall
4.1Drinking water: supply and storage4.2Sanitation: toilets, showers and waste management4.3Energy: temporary generation and lighting4.4Air conditioning and heat protection4.5Kitchens and food distribution4.6Healthcare and psychosocial support4.7Child-friendly spaces and pets4.8Telecommunications and connectivity4.9Hygiene and disease control4.10Case study: services calculation for five hundred people
5.1Registration and management of residents5.2Coordination with social services and NGOs5.3Rules of coexistence and participation5.4Security and access control5.5Supply logistics5.6Maintenance and cleaning5.7Transition to provisional accommodation5.8Dismantling and restoration of the site5.9Assessment of accommodation quality5.10Case study: operations plan for a municipal shelter
6.1Definition of the scenario and demand6.2Site selection6.3Functional programme of the shelter6.4Floor layout design6.5Sizing of basic installations6.6Assembly and logistics plan6.7Operations and management plan6.8Estimated implementation budget6.9Report and presentation6.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training 100 % online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine the programme with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit, DesignBuilder, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for shelter site selection using multi-criteria analysis, floor layout design of a hall as a shelter, and sizing basic services for displaced populations. Assessment is continuous, by module, plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Understand the typologies and phases of temporary accommodation after a disaster.
Select safe sites through multi-criteria analysis.
Design dignified, accessible and safe shelters.
Size water, sanitation and energy for collective accommodation.
Apply the Sphere Standards to the urban context.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior qualification is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient level of Spanish to follow technical regulatory texts.
Ready to start?
Send your application today. Our admissions team replies within 72 hours with your study plan and funding options.
Frequently asked questions
The programme totals 300 hours, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with full-time work.
You will work with QGIS, AutoCAD, SketchUp, Revit and DesignBuilder. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
SEIUM's own diploma, awarded on passing the continuous assessment and the final integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or Postgraduate Diploma in the same area are recognised towards the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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