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Postgraduate DiplomaAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Diploma in Photogrammetry and 3D Modeling with UAS

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in UAS photogrammetry and 3D modelling: 8 modules covering photogrammetric principles, flight planning, ground control and georeferencing, aerotriangulation and SfM, dense clouds and digital models, meshes and orthophotos, and quality control, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration6–8 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
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Take the controls.

Run a real engineering trade-off from this field. Move the sliders, watch the model react in real time and beat the challenge.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the geometric principles of photogrammetry.

02

Plan photogrammetric flights according to the required accuracy.

03

Design ground control with GNSS RTK and PPK.

04

Process image blocks using aerotriangulation and SfM.

05

Generate dense clouds, textured meshes and true orthophotos.

06

Assess positional accuracy against recognised standards.

07

Deliver 3D products in interoperable formats.

Profile

Who it's for

  • UAS photogrammetry technicians aiming to master the full processing chain.
  • Surveyors adding drone photogrammetry to their field methods.
  • 3D modelling specialists working with reality capture.
  • UAS pilots moving from flying into mapping and data production.
  • GIS analysts who need to generate and validate their own 3D data.
  • Infrastructure inspection technicians.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter surveying and mapping.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for operating unmanned aircraft)
  • Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 (UAS design requirements and class marking)
  • ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data (accuracy classes for geospatial products)
  • ISO 19157-1 (geographic information data quality)
  • ISO 19115-1 (geographic information metadata)
  • Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE) (European spatial data infrastructure)
  • Royal Decree 517/2024 (Spanish national UAS regulation)
  • Agisoft Metashape
  • Pix4Dmapper
  • RealityCapture
  • CloudCompare
  • OpenDroneMap
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Camera model and collinearity equations
  2. 1.2Interior orientation and lens distortion
  3. 1.3Exterior orientation: omega, phi and kappa
  4. 1.4Stereoscopic vision and parallax
  5. 1.5Image scale and GSD
  6. 1.6ETRS89 reference systems and UTM projection
  7. 1.7Ellipsoidal and orthometric heights
  8. 1.8Global shutter versus rolling shutter
  9. 1.9Camera calibration
  10. 1.10Practical: camera calibration with a chessboard target
  1. 2.1Forward and side overlap
  2. 2.2Nadir and oblique flights
  3. 2.3Double-grid and orbit missions
  4. 2.4Terrain following over rugged relief
  5. 2.5Exposure, ISO and shutter speed
  6. 2.6Controlling motion blur
  7. 2.7Regulatory flight restrictions
  8. 2.8Planning for façades and vertical structures
  9. 2.9Mission planning software
  10. 2.10Workshop: flight plan for a quarry
  1. 3.1Design of ground control and check points
  2. 3.2Targets and how to mark them
  3. 3.3GNSS RTK observation with an NTRIP network
  4. 3.4Direct georeferencing with PPK
  5. 3.5Antenna offset and trigger synchronisation
  6. 3.6Total station as complementary control
  7. 3.7Transformations and geoid models
  8. 3.8Systematic errors and the doming effect
  9. 3.9Control point descriptions
  10. 3.10Practical: surveying ground control points with RTK
  1. 4.1Tie point detection with SIFT
  2. 4.2Matching and RANSAC filtering
  3. 4.3Bundle adjustment
  4. 4.4Camera parameter self-calibration
  5. 4.5Residual analysis and reprojection error
  6. 4.6Optimisation with ground control points
  7. 4.7Handling large blocks in parts
  8. 4.8Homogeneous surfaces, water and vegetation
  9. 4.9Processing quality reports
  10. 4.10Lab: aerotriangulation of an urban block
  1. 5.1Multi-view dense matching
  2. 5.2Point cloud filtering and classification
  3. 5.3Digital surface and terrain models
  4. 5.4Contour lines and profiles
  5. 5.5Stockpile volume calculation
  6. 5.6Multi-temporal change detection
  7. 5.7LAS, LAZ and E57 formats
  8. 5.8Fusion with LiDAR data
  9. 5.9Point cloud editing in CloudCompare
  10. 5.10Case study: stockpile volumetrics on a construction site
  1. 6.1Poisson mesh reconstruction
  2. 6.2Mesh decimation and optimisation
  3. 6.3Texturing and colour correction
  4. 6.4True orthophoto versus conventional orthophoto
  5. 6.5Mosaicking and seamlines
  6. 6.63D tiles and OBJ and glTF formats
  7. 6.7Digital twins and BIM integration
  8. 6.8Web publishing with Cesium
  9. 6.9Documenting architectural heritage
  10. 6.10Practical: textured model of a historic façade
  1. 7.1Horizontal and vertical accuracy using RMSE
  2. 7.2ASPRS accuracy classes
  3. 7.3ISO 19115 geographic metadata
  4. 7.4Data quality according to ISO 19157
  5. 7.5Technical delivery reports
  6. 7.6Managing large data volumes
  7. 7.7Distributed cloud processing
  8. 7.8Professional liability and contracts
  9. 7.9Licences and data rights
  10. 7.10Case study: quality report for a public authority
  1. 8.1Scope and accuracy requirements
  2. 8.2Flight and ground control planning
  3. 8.3Field data capture
  4. 8.4Full photogrammetric processing
  5. 8.5Generating cartographic products
  6. 8.6Quality control and validation
  7. 8.7Analysis of results and limitations
  8. 8.8Preparing deliverables
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

Training is 100% online on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. There are no fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within each 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 Agisoft Metashape, Pix4Dmapper, RealityCapture, CloudCompare and OpenDroneMap, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied: photogrammetric flights with GNSS ground control, positional accuracy checks on check points and 3D modelling of buildings and structures. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.

Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945, ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data, ISO 19157-1, ISO 19115-1, Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE), 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, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/945 and the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Agisoft Metashape, Pix4Dmapper, RealityCapture, CloudCompare and OpenDroneMap, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:A complete UAS 3D modelling project, from flight and ground control planning to validated cartographic deliverables, 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.

Scope and accuracy
Define the project scope and the accuracy requirements for the deliverables.
Flight and ground control
Plan the flight and the GNSS ground control, then capture the data in the field.
Photogrammetric processing
Run the full processing chain to obtain dense clouds, models and orthophotos.
Quality validation
Validate accuracy on check points and analyse results and limitations.
Final project
A documented UAS 3D modelling project with its deliverables, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

UAS photogrammetry technicianSurveyor3D modelling specialistUAS pilotGIS analystInfrastructure inspection technician
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is 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 Agisoft Metashape, Pix4Dmapper, RealityCapture, CloudCompare and OpenDroneMap, 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 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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