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Master'sAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Master’s in Drone Engineering for Industrial and Infrastructure Inspection

Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in drone engineering for industrial and infrastructure inspection, structured in 12 modules covering inspection sensors, applied thermography, energy and civil infrastructure inspection, confined-space and contact inspection, data processing with AI, inspection operations, regulation and asset management, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration1900 h
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 advantages and workflow of drone-based inspection.

02

Select suitable sensors for each type of defect.

03

Apply thermography to energy and industrial assets.

04

Plan inspections of civil infrastructure and confined spaces.

05

Process inspection data with photogrammetry and artificial intelligence.

06

Assess risks and comply with the applicable regulations.

07

Integrate results into asset management.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Drone inspection engineers.
  • Industrial inspection pilots looking to move into engineering and analysis.
  • Certified thermographers extending their work to aerial platforms.
  • Inspection data analysts.
  • Asset managers in energy and infrastructure.
  • UAS operations managers.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the energy sector.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for the operation of unmanned aircraft)
  • JARUS SORA (specific operations risk assessment)
  • ISO 18434-1 (condition monitoring by thermography)
  • ISO 9712 (qualification and certification of NDT personnel)
  • Directive 2014/34/EU ATEX (equipment for explosive atmospheres)
  • IEC 62446-3 (outdoor infrared thermography of PV modules and plants)
  • Royal Decree 517/2024 (Spanish legal framework for UAS operations)
  • DJI Pilot 2
  • Pix4D
  • FLIR Thermal Studio
  • Agisoft Metashape
  • Bentley iTwin
Syllabus

12 modules · 1900 h

  1. 1.1Advantages over conventional inspection
  2. 1.2Types of inspectable assets
  3. 1.3Inspection workflow
  4. 1.4Inspection standards by sector
  5. 1.5Required resolution and GSD
  6. 1.6Platform selection
  7. 1.7Team and roles
  8. 1.8Cost and return on investment
  9. 1.9Industrial success stories
  10. 1.10Case study: cost–benefit analysis of tower inspection
  1. 2.1High-resolution RGB cameras
  2. 2.2Radiometric thermography of assets
  3. 2.3Zoom cameras
  4. 2.4LiDAR for asset modelling
  5. 2.5Gas and methane sensors
  6. 2.6Contact ultrasonics
  7. 2.7UV corona cameras
  8. 2.8Sensor calibration
  9. 2.9Sensor selection by defect
  10. 2.10Lab: calibration of a radiometric thermal camera
  1. 3.1Principles of infrared radiation
  2. 3.2Emissivity and reflection
  3. 3.3Weather conditions for measurement
  4. 3.4Thermography of photovoltaic panels
  5. 3.5Thermography of power lines
  6. 3.6Thermography of buildings
  7. 3.7Anomaly analysis
  8. 3.8Preparation of thermographic reports
  9. 3.9Thermographer certification
  10. 3.10Practical exercise: defect analysis in a photovoltaic plant
  1. 4.1High-voltage lines
  2. 4.2Inspection of electrical substations
  3. 4.3Inspection of wind turbines at standstill
  4. 4.4Inspection of photovoltaic plants
  5. 4.5Oil and gas facilities
  6. 4.6Flares and stacks
  7. 4.7Electrical safety distances
  8. 4.8Electromagnetic interference near lines
  9. 4.9Inspection planning
  10. 4.10Case study: wind turbine blade inspection
  1. 5.1Inspection of bridges and viaducts
  2. 5.2Inspection of dams and spillways
  3. 5.3Inspection of tunnels and galleries
  4. 5.4Inspection of façades and roofs
  5. 5.5Road pavement condition surveys
  6. 5.6Inspection of catenary and railway track
  7. 5.7Inspection of port assets and quays
  8. 5.8Under-deck inspection
  9. 5.9Damage classification
  10. 5.10Workshop: inspection plan for a concrete bridge
  1. 6.1Drones with protective cages
  2. 6.2GNSS-free navigation
  3. 6.3On-board lighting in dark spaces
  4. 6.4Tanks and boilers
  5. 6.5Internal inspection of silos
  6. 6.6Risks of explosive atmospheres
  7. 6.7Communications in confined spaces
  8. 6.8Occupational risk management
  9. 6.9Thickness measurement
  10. 6.10Case study: inspection of an industrial boiler
  1. 7.1Drones with manipulator arms
  2. 7.2Ultrasonic thickness measurement
  3. 7.3Stabilisation during contact
  4. 7.4Force control
  5. 7.5Applications on pipework
  6. 7.6Stack inspection
  7. 7.7Limitations of contact inspection
  8. 7.8Safety in contact operations
  9. 7.9Commercial contact platforms
  10. 7.10Lab: contact stability analysis
  1. 8.1Management of large image volumes
  2. 8.2Photogrammetry for inspection
  3. 8.3Digital twins of inspected assets
  4. 8.4AI-based defect detection
  5. 8.5Convolutional networks for defects
  6. 8.6Data annotation
  7. 8.7Integration with maintenance systems
  8. 8.83D visualisation of results
  9. 8.9Data security
  10. 8.10Practical exercise: corrosion detection with neural networks
  1. 9.1Flight planning
  2. 9.2Automated and repeatable flights
  3. 9.3BVLOS operations along linear corridors
  4. 9.4Permanent drone-in-a-box systems
  5. 9.5Risk management
  6. 9.6Permits and coordination
  7. 9.7Safety in industrial plants
  8. 9.8Weather and operating windows
  9. 9.9Fleet maintenance
  10. 9.10Case study: drone-in-a-box deployment at a plant
  1. 10.1European UAS regulation
  2. 10.2PDRA scenarios for inspection
  3. 10.3SORA for infrastructure
  4. 10.4Occupational risk prevention
  5. 10.5Operation in ATEX atmospheres
  6. 10.6Protection of critical infrastructure
  7. 10.7Privacy in image capture
  8. 10.8Liability insurance for inspection
  9. 10.9Sector-specific inspection regulations
  10. 10.10Workshop: SORA for BVLOS power line inspection
  1. 11.1Condition-based maintenance
  2. 11.2Integration with CMMS
  3. 11.3Asset health indicators
  4. 11.4Writing technical reports
  5. 11.5Defect classification standards
  6. 11.6Trend analysis
  7. 11.7Repair planning
  8. 11.8Decision-making
  9. 11.9Client communication
  10. 11.10Practical exercise: asset condition report
  1. 12.1Asset selection
  2. 12.2Inspection requirements
  3. 12.3Sensor and platform selection
  4. 12.4Operations plan
  5. 12.5Risk assessment
  6. 12.6Processing and analysis
  7. 12.7Integration with asset management
  8. 12.8Economic viability of the service
  9. 12.9Master's Thesis report
  10. 12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

The programme is delivered 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 you can combine it with your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is DJI Pilot 2, Pix4D, FLIR Thermal Studio, Agisoft Metashape and Bentley iTwin, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures: thermographic inspection of photovoltaic plants, wind turbine blade inspection and confined-space inspection. Assessment is continuous for each module, plus the final Master's Thesis.

Standards covered: Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, JARUS SORA, ISO 18434-1, ISO 9712, Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX), IEC 62446-3, Royal Decree 517/2024.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Regulation (EU) 2019/947, JARUS SORA, ISO 18434-1 and IEC 62446-3 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:DJI Pilot 2, Pix4D, FLIR Thermal Studio, Agisoft Metashape and Bentley iTwin, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Master's Thesis with defence:A complete drone inspection service for a real asset, from sensor selection to data analysis and economic viability, defended before a panel.
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.

Thermal camera calibration
Calibrate a radiometric thermal camera and analyse PV plant defects.
Bridge inspection plan
Prepare an inspection plan for a concrete bridge, including under-deck work.
AI defect detection
Detect corrosion in inspection imagery with neural networks.
BVLOS line inspection SORA
Carry out a SORA for a BVLOS power line inspection.
Master's Thesis
Design an inspection service for a real asset, from operations to asset management, defended before a panel.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Drone inspection engineerIndustrial inspection pilotCertified thermographerInspection data analystAsset managerUAS operations manager
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • University degree in engineering, science or architecture, or equivalent demonstrable professional experience.
  • Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's 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 1,900 hours over 12–14 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with DJI Pilot 2, Pix4D, FLIR Thermal Studio, Agisoft Metashape and Bentley iTwin, 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 Master's Thesis. 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 in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised in the higher programme. Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.

A university degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), 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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