Master’s in Motoring Heritage Photography, Digitisation and Archiving Engineering — Catalogues, Standards, Preservation
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in photography, digitisation and archiving engineering for motoring heritage, structured in 12 modules covering technical and catalogue photography, document and 3D digitisation, metadata, collection management systems, digital preservation, conservation of originals, access and project management, with an assigned technical tutor.
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.
What you will be able to do
Understand the documentary heritage of motoring.
Photograph vehicles for technical and commercial purposes.
Digitise documents and photographs to standardised quality.
Create 3D models of vehicles.
Catalogue collections with standard metadata.
Preserve digital archives over the long term.
Disseminate heritage with sound access criteria.
Who it's for
- Technical automotive photographers
- Motoring heritage archivists
- Digitisation technicians
- Digital collection managers
- Documentalists
- Digital preservation specialists
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to move into museums
What you'll work with
- ISO 19264-1 (image quality analysis for cultural heritage imaging)
- ISO 14721 (OAIS, open archival information system reference model)
- ISO 15836 (Dublin Core metadata element set)
- ISO 21127 (CIDOC CRM, cultural heritage information ontology)
- ISO 19005 (PDF/A, long-term archiving format)
- ISO 11799 (storage requirements for archive and library materials)
- ISO 18911 (storage practices for processed safety photographic films)
- FADGI technical guidelines (digitisation of cultural heritage materials)
- Adobe Lightroom
- Capture One
- CollectiveAccess
- Agisoft Metashape
- Archivematica
12 modules · 1900 h
1.1The concept of automotive heritage1.2Types of heritage: vehicles, documents and images1.3Manufacturer and club archives1.4Historical photographic archives1.5Risks of loss1.6Principles of digital preservation1.7Ethics of digitisation1.8Copyright1.9Access and dissemination1.10Case study: assessment of a club archive
2.1Professional photographic equipment2.2Lenses and perspective2.3Studio lighting2.4Outdoor lighting2.5Detail photography2.6Documentation photography2.7Inspection photography2.8Composition and style2.9Workflows2.10Workshop: documentation photo shoot
3.1Product photography3.2Motion photography3.3Interior photography3.4Backgrounds and set design3.5Image post-production3.6Colour management3.7Output formats3.8Photography for auctions3.9Supporting video of the vehicle3.10Practical exercise: photographic catalogue of a vehicle
4.1Flatbed and overhead scanners4.2Resolution and colour depth4.3Colour targets and control4.4Digitising large-format drawings4.5Digitising negatives and slides4.6Books and fragile documents4.7Master preservation formats4.8Quality control4.9Image quality standards4.10Laboratory: digitising negatives with quality control
5.1Vehicle photogrammetry5.2Laser scanning of vehicles5.3Scanning parts5.4Model processing5.5Texture capture5.6Models for archiving5.7Models for dissemination5.83D file formats5.9Preservation of models5.10Case study: 3D model of a museum vehicle
6.1Descriptive metadata for objects6.2Technical image metadata6.3Administrative and rights metadata6.4The Dublin Core schema6.5The CIDOC CRM conceptual model6.6IPTC and EXIF6.7Use of controlled vocabularies6.8Persistent object identifiers6.9Metadata quality6.10Workshop: metadata schema for an archive
7.1Collection management systems7.2Digital asset managers7.3Selection criteria7.4Data migration7.5Web integration7.6Permissions and access7.7Search and retrieval7.8Periodic system maintenance7.9Implementation costs7.10Practical exercise: setting up a catalogue in CollectiveAccess
8.1The OAIS reference model8.2Preservation formats8.3Backups8.4Integrity and checksums8.5Format migration8.6Cloud storage8.7Preservation plans8.8Repository certification8.9Obsolescence risks8.10Case study: preservation plan for a photographic archive
9.1Conservation of photographs9.2Conservation of paper9.3Conservation of film9.4Control of environmental conditions9.5Archival materials9.6Safe handling of items9.7Storage of paper originals9.8Disaster prevention9.9Document restoration9.10Workshop: conservation plan for a photographic collection
10.1Designing virtual exhibitions10.2Archive websites10.3Social media communication10.4Print and digital publications10.5Open content licences10.6Image rights10.7Digital accessibility of content10.8Community participation10.9Measuring impact10.10Practical exercise: virtual exhibition of an archive
11.1Project planning11.2Selecting collections11.3Project budget11.4Equipment and staff11.5Outsourcing technical services11.6Quality control11.7Available funding sources11.8Monitoring and control indicators11.9Recording lessons learned11.10Case study: digitisation project for a factory archive
12.1Selecting the collection or holding12.2Assessment of the documentary holding12.3Digitisation plan12.4Photography and digitisation12.5Cataloguing and metadata12.6Preservation plan12.7Dissemination plan12.8Conclusions and future work12.9Master's Thesis report12.10Master's Thesis: defence before a panel
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 it can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, CollectiveAccess, Agisoft Metashape and Archivematica, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures for digitisation with image quality control, cataloguing with standardised metadata and vehicle photogrammetry. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final Master's Thesis.
Standards covered: ISO 19264-1, ISO 14721 (OAIS), ISO 15836 (Dublin Core), ISO 21127 (CIDOC CRM), ISO 19005 (PDF/A), ISO 11799, ISO 18911, FADGI technical guidelines.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Where this takes you
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.
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 Adobe Lightroom, Capture One, CollectiveAccess, Agisoft Metashape and Archivematica, 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 degree in engineering, science or architecture (or equivalent professional experience), a suitable computer and internet connection, 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.
Related programmes
Master’s in Chrome, Nickel Plating and Surface Treatments Engineering
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in chrome plating, nickel plating and surface treatment engineering, structured in 12 modules covering surface electrochemistry, part preparation, copper, nickel…
Master’s in Glass, Brightwork and Analogue Instruments Engineering — VDO/Smiths/Jaeger Gauges, Fine Restoration
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in glass, fittings and analogue instrumentation engineering — VDO, Smiths and Jaeger clockwork and fine restoration. 12 modules covering mechanical…
Master’s in Period Transmissions, Overdrive and Differentials Engineering — Manual Gearboxes, Synchronisers, Classic LSDs
Online master's programme of 1,900 hours in period transmission, overdrive and differential engineering, structured in 12 modules covering transmission principles, period clutches, non-synchromesh and synchromesh gearboxes,…
More in Restoration & Classics
All Restoration & Classics programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships