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Postgraduate Diploma in 2D Modelling and Early Warning

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in 2D Modelling and Early Warning. 8 modules covering Directive 2007/60/EC (assessment and management of flood risks), Royal Decree 903/2010 (assessment and management of flood risks) and Iber. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration800 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

Explain the shallow water equations and their assumptions.

02

Compare numerical methods for solving 2D models.

03

Apply 2D models to real flood cases.

04

Prepare input data and calibrate hydraulic models.

05

Design the architecture of an early warning system.

06

Integrate meteorological and hydrological forecasts into operations.

07

Define communication protocols and response procedures for warnings.

Profile

Who it's for

  • 2D hydraulic modeller who wants to specialise in 2D Modelling and Early Warning.
  • Early warning systems engineer who wants to specialise in 2D Modelling and Early Warning.
  • Operational hydrologist who wants to specialise in 2D Modelling and Early Warning.
  • Civil protection technician who wants to specialise in 2D Modelling and Early Warning.
  • Flood risk analyst who wants to specialise in 2D Modelling and Early Warning.
  • Developer of hydroinformatics tools who wants to specialise in 2D Modelling and Early Warning.
  • Engineering or science graduates seeking to join river basin authorities.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive 2007/60/EC (assessment and management of flood risks)
  • Royal Decree 903/2010 (assessment and management of flood risks)
  • Law 17/2015 on the National Civil Protection System
  • Basic Directive for Civil Protection Planning for Flood Risk
  • ISO 22322 (emergency management: public warning)
  • ISO 22328-1 (community-based early warning systems)
  • Royal Decree 264/2021 (technical safety standards for dams)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Shallow water hypotheses
  2. 1.22D Saint-Venant equations
  3. 1.3Friction and turbulence terms
  4. 1.4Wet and dry fronts
  5. 1.5Discontinuities and hydraulic jumps
  6. 1.6Dam-break waves
  7. 1.7Simplified diffusive equations
  8. 1.8Boundary conditions
  9. 1.9Stability and the Courant number
  10. 1.10Practical: solving a dam-break problem
  1. 2.1Finite differences, volumes and finite elements
  2. 2.2Structured and unstructured meshes
  3. 2.3Godunov and Roe schemes
  4. 2.4Implicit and explicit schemes
  5. 2.5Accuracy and numerical diffusion
  6. 2.6Parallelisation and GPU computing
  7. 2.7Local mesh refinement
  8. 2.8Mass conservation
  9. 2.9Verification against analytical solutions
  10. 2.10Workshop: comparing schemes in a channel
  1. 3.1HEC-RAS 2D
  2. 3.2Iber
  3. 3.3TELEMAC-2D
  4. 3.4MIKE 21 and MIKE FLOOD
  5. 3.5InfoWorks ICM
  6. 3.61D-2D coupling
  7. 3.7Coupling with urban drainage
  8. 3.8Direct rainfall-on-grid models
  9. 3.9Software selection criteria
  10. 3.10Practical: 2D model of a river reach with Iber
  1. 4.1LiDAR digital terrain models
  2. 4.2Channel bathymetry
  3. 4.3Integration of buildings and obstacles
  4. 4.4Roughness by land use
  5. 4.5Inflow hydrographs
  6. 4.6Calibration with historical events
  7. 4.7Satellite flood imagery
  8. 4.8Sensitivity analysis
  9. 4.9Uncertainty in 2D models
  10. 4.10Laboratory: calibration with flood marks from a real event
  1. 5.1Components of a warning system
  2. 5.2SAIH hydrometeorological networks
  3. 5.3Weather radar and precipitation estimation
  4. 5.4Numerical weather prediction
  5. 5.5European Flood Alert System (EFAS)
  6. 5.6Warning thresholds
  7. 5.7Lead time
  8. 5.8Flash floods in small catchments
  9. 5.9Real-time data assimilation
  10. 5.10Case study: warning thresholds for a catchment
  1. 6.1Real-time hydrological models
  2. 6.2Ensemble forecasting
  3. 6.3Surrogate models and machine learning
  4. 6.4Pre-computed flood maps
  5. 6.5Meteorology-hydrology-hydraulics model chain
  6. 6.6Forecast verification
  7. 6.7Reservoir management during floods
  8. 6.8Centre operating protocols
  9. 6.9Catchment digital twins
  10. 6.10Workshop: forecasting chain with ensemble hydrographs
  1. 7.1Basic flood directive
  2. 7.2Civil protection plans
  3. 7.3Public warnings
  4. 7.4ES-Alert system
  5. 7.5Risk communication and perception
  6. 7.6Coordination with emergency services
  7. 7.7Evacuation and safe routes
  8. 7.8Post-event evaluation
  9. 7.9Lessons from recent episodes
  10. 7.10Practical: municipal warning protocol
  1. 8.1Selection of the catchment and urban area
  2. 8.2Data collection and processing
  3. 8.3Building the 2D model
  4. 8.4Calibration and validation
  5. 8.5Flood scenarios
  6. 8.6Warning system design
  7. 8.7Thresholds and warning protocols
  8. 8.8Communication plan
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final 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 timetable: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it possible to combine with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Iber, HEC-RAS 2D, TELEMAC-2D, Delft-FEWS, Python (xarray), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for calibrating models against historical episodes, warning and evacuation drills, and verification of operational hydrological forecasts. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrative project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with a rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL, vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented Master's Thesis:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:lecturers with experience in training, , eVTOL/UAM and flight test.
Flexible format(hybrid/online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:safety-by-design approach, cyber-OT, DIH and compliance as pillars.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Selection of the catchment and urban area

Explain the shallow water equations and their assumptions.

Data collection and processing

Compare numerical methods for solving 2D models.

Building the 2D model

Apply 2D models to real flood cases.

Calibration and validation

Prepare input data and calibrate hydraulic models.

Flood scenarios

Design the architecture of an early warning system.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

2D hydraulic modellerEarly warning systems engineerOperational hydrologistCivil protection technicianFlood risk analystDeveloper of hydroinformatics tools
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's software.
  • Sufficient Spanish to follow technical regulatory reading.

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 consists of 800 hours in total, spread over 6 to 8 months. That is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme works with Iber, HEC-RAS 2D, TELEMAC-2D, Delft-FEWS, Python (xarray). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the open-source alternative where one exists.

An own SEIUM diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrative project. It is in-house training, not an official Ministry qualification.

Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area are recognised towards the advanced programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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