Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening
Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening. 8 modules covering ISO 7730 (ergonomics of the thermal environment), ASTM E1980 (solar reflectance index) and ENVI-met. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
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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
Explain the physical mechanisms of the urban heat island.
Measure urban climate using in situ sensors and remote sensing.
Model the microclimate of streets and squares using numerical tools.
Select cool materials and surfaces according to their reflectance and emissivity.
Design urban greening solutions based on species selection and irrigation criteria.
Integrate heat mitigation into public space design and urban policies.
Develop a heat island mitigation project for a neighbourhood.
Who it's for
- Urban climate specialist looking to specialise in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening.
- Green infrastructure engineer looking to specialise in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening.
- Climate adaptation urban planner looking to specialise in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening.
- Environmental remote sensing technician looking to specialise in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening.
- Urban greening consultant looking to specialise in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening.
- Outdoor thermal comfort analyst looking to specialise in Urban Heat Island Mitigation and Urban Greening.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter local government.
What you'll work with
- ISO 7730 (Ergonomics of the Thermal Environment)
- ASTM E1980 (Solar Reflectance Index)
- ISO 7243 (Heat Stress, WBGT Index)
- Spanish Law 7/2021 on Climate Change and Energy Transition
- Spanish Technical Building Code DB HE (Energy Savings)
- ASTM C1549 (Solar Reflectance with a Portable Reflectometer)
- FLL (Green Roof Guidelines)
8 modules · 800 h
1.1Surface and atmospheric urban heat island1.2Urban energy balance1.3Albedo, emissivity and thermal mass1.4Urban canyon geometry and sky view factor1.5Anthropogenic heat1.6Local Climate Zones (LCZ)1.7Heatwaves and tropical nights1.8Health and energy consumption effects1.9Climate change and urban projections1.10Workshop: LCZ classification of a city
2.1Urban weather stations2.2Mobile temperature transects2.3Aerial and drone thermography2.4Landsat and land surface temperature2.5NDVI vegetation indices2.6Low-cost sensors and citizen networks2.7Comfort indices: UTCI and PET2.8Mean radiant temperature and globe thermometer2.9GIS data processing2.10Laboratory: surface temperature map with Landsat
3.1ENVI-met: fundamentals and set-up3.2CFD models of urban wind3.3SOLWEIG and radiation3.4Ladybug Tools and parametric design3.5Urban mesoscale WRF models3.6Validation with field data3.7Intervention scenarios3.8Model limitations3.9Communicating results3.10Practical: ENVI-met simulation of a square
4.1Cool and reflective pavements4.2Cool roofs and SRI4.3Permeable and evaporative pavements4.4Facades and high-emissivity materials4.5Glare and side effects4.6Coating ageing4.7Shading and solar protection elements4.8Water in public spaces4.9Life cycle analysis of materials4.10Case study: pavement selection for a school playground
5.1Urban trees and shade5.2Evapotranspiration and cooling5.3Selection of resilient species5.4Green roofs and green facades5.5Green corridors and ventilation5.6Nature-based solutions5.7Soil and water for trees5.8Urban biodiversity5.9i-Tree ecosystem services5.10Practical: tree planting plan for a neighbourhood
6.1Climate Refuges 6.2 Greened School Playgrounds 6.3 Shaded Streets and Awnings 6.4 Superblocks and Traffic Calming 6.5 Fountains, Misting Systems and Water Features 6.6 Accessibility and summer use 6.7 design with a vulnerability perspective 6.8 Citizen Participation 6.9 Reference Cases: Barcelona, Paris, Medellín 6.10 Workshop: Bioclimatic Redesign of a street
7.1Climate change adaptation plans7.2Heat vulnerability maps7.3Ordinances and urban planning7.4Green infrastructure strategy7.5Funding and European funds7.6Monitoring indicators7.7Maintenance and green space management7.8Reclaimed water for irrigation7.9Multilevel governance7.10Case study: municipal thermal comfort plan
8.1Climate diagnosis of the area8.2Vulnerability analysis8.3Comfort objectives8.4Greening proposal8.5Materials and shading proposal8.6Scenario simulation8.7Management plan and budget8.8Monitoring indicators8.9Report and presentation8.10Final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, 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 ENVI-met, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Ladybug Tools, Python (rasterio), in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real procedures from microclimate measurement campaigns with mobile stations, thermography and land surface temperature remote sensing, and experimental green roof plots. Assessment is continuous across modules, 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.
Explain the physical mechanisms of the urban heat island.
Measure urban climate using in situ sensors and remote sensing.
Model the microclimate of streets and squares using numerical tools.
Select cool materials and surfaces according to their reflectance and emissivity.
Design urban greening solutions based on species selection and irrigation criteria.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. A university degree is not 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 totals 800 hours spread over 6 to 8 months. This is between 10 and 15 hours per week on average, compatible with a full-time job.
The programme uses ENVI-met, QGIS, Google Earth Engine, Ladybug Tools, Python (rasterio). Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
An SEIUM own diploma upon passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It 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 credit transfer policy when you enrol.
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