Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles Course
Online 300-hour course in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles. 6 modules covering the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol), Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment and QGIS. Dedicated 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
Describe the needs of vehicles in scientific campaigns.
Specify the vehicle's preparation and equipment.
Integrate onboard scientific instrumentation with measurement assurance.
Plan driving and navigation in remote terrain.
Apply health, safety and emergency protocols in the field.
Manage the permits and environmental requirements of the campaign.
Design a scientific campaign with a vehicle as part of the final project.
Who it's for
- Scientific campaign technician wishing to specialise in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles.
- Field instrumentation engineer wishing to specialise in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles.
- Expedition logistics coordinator wishing to specialise in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles.
- Environmental technician wishing to specialise in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles.
- Research vehicle manager wishing to specialise in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles.
- Health and safety technician for field work wishing to specialise in Off-Road Scientific Exploration Vehicles.
- Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter scientific research.
What you'll work with
- Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty (Madrid Protocol)
- Law 21/2013 on environmental assessment
- ISO/IEC 17025 (competence of testing and calibration laboratories)
- Regulation (EU) 2018/858 (vehicle type-approval)
- ISO 19115-1 (geographic information metadata)
- ISO 45001 (occupational health and safety)
- Directive 2014/30/EU (electromagnetic compatibility)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Types of campaign: geological, biological, glaciological and archaeological1.2Vehicle requirements by discipline1.3Environments: desert, polar, jungle, high mountain and volcanic1.4Range, payload and habitability1.5Light vehicles, expedition trucks and tracked vehicles1.6Trailers, modules and mobile laboratories1.7Traffic regulations in protected areas1.8Research and access permits1.9Budget and logistics of a campaign1.10Workshop: vehicle specification for a campaign
2.1Suspension, tyres and underbody protection2.2Traction systems, low-range gearing and locking differentials2.3Extending fuel and water range2.4Auxiliary electrical system and solar power2.5Communications: radio, satellite and beacons2.6Navigation, cartography and route logging2.7Storage, load securing and access to equipment2.8Tools, spare parts and field repair2.9Accommodation, cooking and waste management2.10Practical: vehicle equipment plan
3.1Instrument mounting and vibration isolation3.2Electrical power supply and equipment protection3.3Meteorological and air quality sensors3.4Sampling equipment and its preservation3.5Georeferencing of measurements3.6Data logging and field backup3.7Protection against dust, humidity and temperature3.8Field calibration and quality control3.9Sample transport and chain of custody3.10Practical: design of an instrumentation installation
4.1Reading the terrain and choosing a route4.2Driving on sand, mud, snow and rock4.3Fording and river crossings4.4Slopes, traverses and rollover risk4.5Recovering stuck vehicles4.6Convoys and travel rules4.7Navigation without reference points and waymarking4.8Fuel management and refuelling points4.9Minimising impact on the terrain4.10Practical: planning a campaign route
5.1Campaign risk assessment5.2Minimum team training5.3First aid kit, protocols and medical communication5.4Lone working and control procedures5.5Extreme weather and shelter5.6Wildlife and biological hazards in the environment5.7Evacuation plan and coordination with authorities5.8Drills before departure5.9Incident logging and learning5.10Practical: emergency plan for a campaign
6.1Research and access authorisations6.2Conditions imposed by the administration6.3Protection of habitats and species6.4Waste and water management in the field6.5Biosecurity and prevention of invasive species6.6Relations with local communities6.7Documentation and reporting after the campaign6.8Campaign costs and funding6.9Common mistakes in field campaigns6.10Final project: complete plan for a scientific campaign
How you'll learn
100% online training 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, Garmin BaseCamp, Python (pandas), LabVIEW, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures from field sampling campaigns, integration and calibration of onboard instrumentation, and navigation and evacuation planning. 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.
Describe the needs of vehicles in scientific campaigns.
Specify the vehicle's preparation and equipment.
Integrate onboard scientific instrumentation with measurement assurance.
Plan driving and navigation in remote terrain.
Apply health, safety and emergency protocols in the field.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme's software.
- Sufficient 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 consists of 300 hours in total, spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of 10 to 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You will work with QGIS, Garmin BaseCamp, Python (pandas), LabVIEW. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. This is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are credited towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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