Apply now
Postgraduate DiplomaInsurance, Risk & Actuarial Data Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment. 8 modules covering Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (Union Space Programme and Copernicus), Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE) and ESA SNAP. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor
Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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.

SIM · LIVE ●
Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the physical principles of optical and radar remote sensing.

02

Process optical images with radiometric and geometric corrections.

03

Interpret and process synthetic aperture radar data.

04

Apply change detection techniques to delineate damage.

05

Train machine learning models on satellite imagery.

06

Integrate remote sensing products into insured claim estimation.

07

Evaluate the quality, legal aspects and operations of damage assessment services.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Remote sensing analyst wishing to specialise in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment.
  • GIS specialist in insurance wishing to specialise in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment.
  • Geospatial data scientist wishing to specialise in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment.
  • Catastrophe analyst wishing to specialise in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment.
  • Mass claims loss adjuster wishing to specialise in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment.
  • Earth observation consultant wishing to specialise in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage Assessment.
  • Graduates in engineering or sciences seeking to enter insurers and reinsurers.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Regulation (EU) 2021/696 (Union Space Programme and Copernicus)
  • Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE)
  • ISO 19115-1 (Geographic Metadata)
  • ISO 19157 (Geographic Data Quality)
  • LAW 14/2010 (Geographic Information Infrastructures and Services in Spain)
  • ISO 19130 (Sensor Models for Imagery)
  • Legislative Royal Decree 7/2004 (Consolidated Legal Statute of the Insurance Compensation Consortium)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Electromagnetic spectrum and interaction with the surface
  2. 1.2Spectral signatures of materials and vegetation
  3. 1.3Spatial, spectral, temporal and radiometric resolution
  4. 1.4Satellite orbits and platforms
  5. 1.5Passive and active sensors
  6. 1.6Copernicus programme and Sentinel missions
  7. 1.7Landsat missions and commercial satellites
  8. 1.8Product processing levels
  9. 1.9Access to data and open catalogues
  10. 1.10Practical: downloading and exploring Sentinel-2 scenes
  1. 2.1Radiometric and atmospheric correction
  2. 2.2Geometric correction and orthorectification
  3. 2.3Cloud and shadow masks
  4. 2.4Colour composites and enhancements
  5. 2.5Spectral indices: NDVI, NDWI and NBR
  6. 2.6Pansharpening and multispectral fusion
  7. 2.7Image time series
  8. 2.8SNAP, QGIS and Earth Engine software
  9. 2.9Managing large image volumes
  10. 2.10Laboratory: NBR index after a forest fire
  1. 3.1Principles of SAR radar
  2. 3.2Polarisation and backscatter
  3. 3.3Sentinel-1 and commercial SAR missions
  4. 3.4Preprocessing: calibration and speckle filtering
  5. 3.5Water detection for flooding
  6. 3.6Interferometric coherence and change
  7. 3.7InSAR interferometry and deformation
  8. 3.8Advantages of SAR under cloud cover
  9. 3.9Limitations in urban areas
  10. 3.10Practical: flood map with Sentinel-1
  1. 4.1Image difference and ratio methods
  2. 4.2Classification before and after the event
  3. 4.3Principal component analysis for change
  4. 4.4Building damage assessment
  5. 4.5Burned areas and fire severity
  6. 4.6Agricultural damage from hail and drought
  7. 4.7Displacement from earthquakes and landslides
  8. 4.8Copernicus Emergency Management Service
  9. 4.9International Charter Space and Major Disasters
  10. 4.10Case study: damage assessment after an earthquake
  1. 5.1Supervised classification with Random Forest
  2. 5.2Convolutional neural networks for satellite imagery
  3. 5.3Building segmentation with U-Net
  4. 5.4Damage detection with datasets such as xBD
  5. 5.5Geospatial foundation models
  6. 5.6Labelling and training data
  7. 5.7Validation with confusion matrix
  8. 5.8Transfer across regions and sensors
  9. 5.9Explainability and quality control
  10. 5.10Laboratory: building damage classifier
  1. 6.1Rapid loss estimation after catastrophes
  2. 6.2Prioritising loss adjustments
  3. 6.3Claim validation and fraud detection
  4. 6.4Agricultural insurance and vegetation indices
  5. 6.5Satellite-based parametric insurance
  6. 6.6Flood risk monitoring
  7. 6.7Monitoring of insured works and assets
  8. 6.8Integration with claims systems
  9. 6.9Costs and commercial imagery licences
  10. 6.10Case study: designing a parametric drought insurance
  1. 7.1Accuracy and field verification
  2. 7.2Uncertainty in damage estimation
  3. 7.3Evidentiary validity of satellite imagery
  4. 7.4Privacy and image resolution
  5. 7.5Copernicus and commercial data licences
  6. 7.6Drone and aerial imagery as a complement
  7. 7.7Operational workflows after an event
  8. 7.8Communicating results to the business
  9. 7.9Trends: constellations and high revisit
  10. 7.10Practical: operational protocol for a DANA
  1. 8.1Selection of event and study area
  2. 8.2Acquisition of pre- and post-event images
  3. 8.3Data preprocessing
  4. 8.4Damage detection and mapping
  5. 8.5Cross-referencing with the insured portfolio
  6. 8.6Loss estimation
  7. 8.7Validation of results
  8. 8.8Report for claims management
  9. 8.9Written report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100 % online training on the SEIUM Institute campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetable: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine study with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is ESA SNAP, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Python (rasterio, PyTorch), ENVI, in free, academic or evaluation versions. The case studies are based on real change-detection procedures after floods using Sentinel-1 imagery, burned-area mapping with Sentinel-2, and building damage estimation after a catastrophic event. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final integrative project.

Accreditable laboratories(EN ISO/IEC 17025) with a rotor test rig, EMC/Lightning pre-compliance, HIL/SIL and vibration/acoustics.
Evidence-oriented final project:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry-mentored: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:a safety-by-design approach, ciber-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 event and study area

Explain the physical principles of optical and radar remote sensing.

Acquisition of pre- and post-event images

Process optical images with radiometric and geometric corrections.

Data preprocessing

Interpret and process synthetic aperture radar data.

Damage detection and mapping

Apply change detection techniques to delineate damage.

Cross-referencing with the insured portfolio

Train machine learning models on satellite imagery.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Remote sensing analystGIS specialist in insuranceGeospatial data scientistCatastrophe analystMass claims loss adjusterEarth observation consultant
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 level of 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.

Apply now Scholarships
FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. That is 10 to 15 hours a week on average, compatible with a full-time job.

The programme uses ESA SNAP, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Python (rasterio, PyTorch), ENVI. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

An own diploma from SEIUM Institute upon passing the continuous assessment and the final 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 in the advanced programme. Review the recognition policy when you enrol.

Keep exploring

Related programmes

See all in Insurance, Risk & Actuarial Data
Postgraduate Diploma1,000 $

Postgraduate Diploma in Risk Analysis for Land and Multimodal Transport

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Risk Analysis for Land and Multimodal Transport. 8 modules covering ADR (international carriage of dangerous goods by road), RID (international carriage…

800 hOnlineInsurance, Risk & Actuarial Data
Postgraduate Diploma1,220 $

Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Loss Adjustment with AI and Drones

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Loss Adjustment with AI and Drones. 8 modules covering Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (UAS operations), Commission Delegated Regulation (EU)…

800 hOnlineInsurance, Risk & Actuarial Data
Postgraduate Diploma1,000 $

Postgraduate Diploma in Data-Driven Price Modelling Techniques

Online Postgraduate Diploma of 800 h in Data-Driven Price Modelling Techniques. 8 modules covering Directive 2009/138/EC (Solvency II), Directive (EU) 2016/97 (IDD), product governance and Emblem…

800 hOnlineInsurance, Risk & Actuarial Data
Postgraduate Diploma in Satellite Remote Sensing for Damage AssessmentEnrol
Related programmes

More in Insurance, Risk & Actuarial Data

Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Loss Adjustment with AI and DronesView programme →Postgraduate Diploma in Geospatial Data Integration in Actuarial PricingView programme →Postgraduate Diploma in Designing Pay-As-You-Drive and Pay-Per-Mile PoliciesView programme →Postgraduate Diploma in Early Fraud Detection in Insurance ClaimsView programme →Postgraduate Diploma in Credit Risk in Automotive LeasingView programme →Postgraduate Diploma in Retention Strategies and Dynamic Pricing in AutomotiveView programme →

All Insurance, Risk & Actuarial Data programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships

Scroll to Top
SEIUM – Institute of Advanced Engineering
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.