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Diploma in Structural Diagnosis and In Situ Testing

Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in structural diagnosis and in-situ testing. 8 modules covering concrete and steel pathologies, visual inspection, destructive and non-destructive testing, steel and timber structures, load testing and monitoring, and assessment of existing structures, applying the Spanish Structural Code (Real Decreto 470/2021), UNE-EN 13791:2020 and UNE-EN 12504-1 with SAP2000, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration800 hours · 6–8 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 the deterioration mechanisms of concrete, steel and timber structures.

02

Plan inspection campaigns proportionate to risk and scope.

03

Carry out and interpret destructive and non-destructive in-situ tests.

04

Calibrate indirect methods with cores to estimate strengths.

05

Design and instrument load tests and monitoring systems.

06

Assess the residual capacity and service life of existing structures.

07

Write diagnosis reports with well-founded intervention proposals.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Structural pathology engineers who diagnose damage in buildings and infrastructure.
  • Structural inspection technicians planning and running site campaigns.
  • Testing laboratory managers who need to interpret in-situ results in context.
  • Consultants assessing existing buildings for refurbishment or change of use.
  • Bridge maintenance engineers responsible for asset condition.
  • Construction expert witnesses preparing technical reports.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter building refurbishment.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Real Decreto 470/2021 (Spanish Structural Code)
  • UNE-EN 13791:2020 (assessment of in-situ compressive strength)
  • UNE-EN 12504-1 (concrete cores)
  • UNE-EN 12504-2 (rebound number)
  • UNE-EN 12504-4 (ultrasonic pulse velocity)
  • UNE 41805 (diagnosis of buildings)
  • ACI 228.1R (in-place methods to estimate concrete strength)
  • ACI 562 (assessment and repair of concrete structures)
  • SAP2000
  • Proceq GPR Insights
  • CloudCompare
  • ARTeMIS Modal
  • Agisoft Metashape
Syllabus

8 modules

  1. 1.1Carbonation and chloride penetration mechanisms
  2. 1.2Reinforcement corrosion: initiation and propagation
  3. 1.3Alkali-aggregate reaction and sulphate attack
  4. 1.4Shrinkage, thermal and load-induced cracking
  5. 1.5Freeze-thaw damage
  6. 1.6Corrosion and fatigue in steel structures
  7. 1.7Pathologies of floor slabs and precast elements
  8. 1.8Defects in masonry and timber structures
  9. 1.9Damage mapping and defect record sheets
  10. 1.10Case study: pathology of an underground car park
  1. 2.1Planning the inspection campaign
  2. 2.2Preliminary and detailed inspection according to scope
  3. 2.3Geometric survey and photographic documentation
  4. 2.4Photogrammetry and laser scanning of façades
  5. 2.5Use of drones in structural inspection
  6. 2.6Crack measurement and monitoring
  7. 2.7Classification of damage by severity and urgency
  8. 2.8Digital recording of defects in the field
  9. 2.9Safety in inspection work
  10. 2.10Practical: inspection plan for a residential building
  1. 3.1Core extraction and location criteria
  2. 3.2Compression testing and slenderness correction
  3. 3.3Determination of carbonation depth
  4. 3.4Chloride profiles and chemical analysis
  5. 3.5Tensile tests on extracted bars
  6. 3.6Concrete petrography and microscopy
  7. 3.7Pull-off test
  8. 3.8Reinstatement of core holes and subsequent control
  9. 3.9Statistical interpretation of results
  10. 3.10Laboratory: analysis of a series of cores
  1. 4.1Rebound hammer index
  2. 4.2Ultrasonic pulse velocity
  3. 4.3Combined SonReb methods
  4. 4.4Covermeter surveys and rebar detection
  5. 4.5Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) on slabs and walls
  6. 4.6Impact-echo and void detection
  7. 4.7Corrosion potential and electrical resistivity
  8. 4.8Infrared thermography of elements
  9. 4.9Calibration of NDT with cores
  10. 4.10Practical: rebound hammer-core correlation
  1. 5.1Inspection of welded and bolted connections
  2. 5.2Dye penetrant and magnetic particle testing
  3. 5.3Ultrasonic testing for thickness and defects
  4. 5.4Measurement of section loss due to corrosion
  5. 5.5Resistance drilling of timber elements
  6. 5.6Detection of wood-boring insects and decay
  7. 5.7Determining the grade of existing steel
  8. 5.8Condition of protective systems and coatings
  9. 5.9Test report for a composite structure
  10. 5.10Case study: industrial building with advanced corrosion
  1. 6.1Objectives and planning of a load test
  2. 6.2Load steps and acceptance criteria
  3. 6.3Instrumentation with dial gauges and LVDTs
  4. 6.4Strain gauges and fibre optics
  5. 6.5Operational modal analysis
  6. 6.6Continuous monitoring and wireless sensors
  7. 6.7Data processing and anomaly detection
  8. 6.8Comparison with a calibrated numerical model
  9. 6.9Safety during load tests
  10. 6.10Laboratory: load test of a floor slab
  1. 7.1Knowledge levels and confidence factors
  2. 7.2Updating material properties
  3. 7.3Modelling the current damaged condition
  4. 7.4Checking residual load-bearing capacity
  5. 7.5Assessment of residual service life
  6. 7.6Reliability analysis and partial factors
  7. 7.7Intervention criteria: repair, strengthen or replace
  8. 7.8Writing the diagnosis report
  9. 7.9Communicating risks to the owner
  10. 7.10Case study: assessment of a concrete bridge
  1. 8.1Case selection and scope of the study
  2. 8.2Inspection and testing plan
  3. 8.3Analysis of field results
  4. 8.4Structural model of the current condition
  5. 8.5Safety and residual life assessment
  6. 8.6Intervention proposal
  7. 8.7Budget for testing and repair
  8. 8.8Drawings and graphic documentation
  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, making it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is SAP2000, Proceq GPR Insights, CloudCompare, ARTeMIS Modal and Agisoft Metashape, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied on real procedures such as a core and rebound hammer campaign in a 1970s building, a corrosion potential map of a bridge deck and a static load test of a one-way floor slab. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.

Standards covered: Real Decreto 470/2021, UNE-EN 13791:2020, UNE-EN 12504-1, UNE-EN 12504-2, UNE-EN 12504-4, UNE 41805, ACI 228.1R, ACI 562.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of the Spanish Structural Code (Real Decreto 470/2021), UNE-EN 13791:2020 and the UNE-EN 12504 series applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:SAP2000, Proceq GPR Insights, CloudCompare, ARTeMIS Modal and Agisoft Metashape, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete structural diagnosis of a real case, from inspection and testing plan to current-condition model, safety and residual life assessment and intervention proposal, 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.

Inspection plan
Plan an inspection campaign for a residential building, classifying damage by severity and urgency.
Core series analysis
Analyse a series of concrete cores and interpret the results statistically.
NDT-core correlation
Calibrate rebound hammer readings against core strengths.
Floor slab load test
Plan and instrument a load test of a floor slab and compare it with a numerical model.
Final project
Deliver a complete structural diagnosis with safety assessment and intervention proposal, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Structural pathology engineerStructural inspection technicianTesting laboratory managerExisting building assessment consultantBridge maintenance engineerConstruction expert witness
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
  • 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 SAP2000, Proceq GPR Insights, CloudCompare, ARTeMIS Modal and Agisoft Metashape, 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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