Diploma in Aerial LiDAR, Processing and Applied GIS
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in airborne LiDAR, processing and applied GIS: 8 modules covering LiDAR principles, platforms and georeferencing, strip adjustment, point cloud classification, derived models, GIS integration and LiDAR project quality management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Aerial LiDAR, Processing and Applied GIS — studying from Australia
Australia's aerospace sector spans defence and commercial aviation, maintenance, repair and overhaul, and a growing space industry. Key clusters sit around Adelaide's Edinburgh Parks and the Melbourne and Sydney defence precincts, with major employers including Airbus Australia Pacific, BAE Systems Australia, Boeing Defence Australia and Lockheed Martin Australia. Recreational and commercial drone operations are increasingly regulated, and advanced air mobility is emerging as a research and policy priority. Engineers working in this area typically support airworthiness, systems integration, structures and avionics across both crewed and uncrewed platforms.
Fees for Australia: A$1,740 (AUD), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Australia
Typical roles
Questions from Australia
Does a SEIUM qualification help me get recognised by a professional body in Australia?
SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications, not official state degrees, and they are not accredited by any Australian body. Engineers Australia accredits university engineering degrees, and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulates drone and aviation operations. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check with them before enrolling.
Will this course help me find work in Australian aerospace, drones or space?
Australia has aerospace and defence employers, drone operators and space-sector companies, and skills in these areas are valued. Whether a SEIUM qualification counts for a given role depends on the employer, who will usually weigh your experience and portfolio alongside any private credential. Ask prospective employers how they view it.
Can I study this part-time while working, and does the time zone suit Australia?
The programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from anywhere in Australia, with no student visa needed for home study. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, so plan your weekly load realistically. Fees are payable in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible.
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 how airborne LiDAR systems work.
Plan LiDAR flights with the required density and accuracy.
Process GNSS/INS trajectories and adjust flight strips.
Classify point clouds using automatic and supervised methods.
Generate digital models and derived products.
Integrate LiDAR data into sector-specific GIS analysis.
Assess the quality of LiDAR deliverables against specifications.
Who it's for
- LiDAR processing technicians seeking a structured command of the full workflow.
- GIS analysts who want to work directly with point clouds.
- Surveyors expanding into airborne laser scanning.
- Cartographic engineers.
- Forestry remote sensing technicians.
- Geospatial project managers who specify or audit LiDAR deliverables.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter mapping and geomatics.
What you'll work with
- ASPRS LAS Specification 1.4 (point cloud exchange format)
- ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data (accuracy classes for geospatial products)
- USGS Lidar Base Specification (requirements for LiDAR data acquisition and delivery)
- IEC 60825-1 (safety of laser products)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for operating unmanned aircraft)
- ISO 19157-1 (geographic information data quality)
- Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE) (European spatial data infrastructure)
- LAStools
- TerraScan
- CloudCompare
- QGIS
- PDAL
8 modules
1.1Time-of-flight distance measurement1.2Discrete return and full waveform1.3Wavelength, divergence and footprint1.4Scanning mechanisms: oscillating mirror, prism and Risley1.5Solid-state and Geiger-mode sensors1.6Point density and pulse frequency1.7Multiple returns and vegetation penetration1.8Surface intensity and reflectivity1.9Laser safety and IEC 60825-1 classes1.10Workshop: comparison of commercial LiDAR sensors
2.1LiDAR on UAS, light aircraft and helicopter2.2GNSS/INS integration2.3Trajectory computation with PPK2.4Boresight and lever-arm calibration2.5System error sources2.6Strip planning and side overlap2.7Flight altitude and scan angle2.8Regulatory requirements for the operation2.9Synchronisation with an RGB camera2.10Practical: trajectory computation with GNSS/IMU data
3.1Strip adjustment and discrepancies3.2Ground control surfaces3.3Intensity normalisation3.4Vertical accuracy in open terrain3.5Vertical accuracy in vegetation3.6System calibration reports3.7Time synchronisation errors3.8Noise, outliers and isolated points3.9Density and void control3.10Lab: strip adjustment of a block
4.1ASPRS class scheme4.2Ground filtering algorithms4.3Height-based vegetation classification4.4Building extraction4.5Power line detection4.6Classification with machine learning4.7Semantic segmentation with PointNet networks4.8Manual editing and review4.9Handling water and bridges4.10Practical: classification of an urban point cloud
5.1DTM, DSM and normalised DSM5.2TIN and IDW interpolation5.3Canopy height models5.4Catchments and drainage networks5.5Slopes and aspects5.6Hillshading and relief visualisation5.7Multi-temporal change detection5.8Volumes and earthworks5.9Integration with orthophotography5.10Case study: hydrological model of a catchment
6.1LAS, LAZ, COPC and EPT formats6.2PostGIS spatial databases6.3Batch processing with PDAL6.4Forest inventory and biomass6.5Power line corridor management6.6Archaeology and micro-relief6.7Flood zone mapping6.83D urban modelling with CityGML6.9OGC web services6.10Workshop: forest inventory with LiDAR metrics
7.1Technical specifications for LiDAR projects7.2PNOA LiDAR coverage7.3ISO 19115 metadata7.4Data quality according to ISO 191577.5Point cloud storage and compression7.6Cloud processing7.7Tender specifications and public procurement7.8Production costs and throughput7.9Open data licences7.10Case study: audit of a LiDAR deliverable
8.1Objectives and study area8.2Flight design and specifications8.3Trajectory and strip adjustment8.4Point cloud classification8.5Derived products8.6Thematic GIS analysis8.7Quality control8.8Discussion of results8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
Training is 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 the programme fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is LAStools, TerraScan, CloudCompare, QGIS and PDAL, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Real procedures are studied: processing of PNOA LiDAR point clouds, adjustment and control of LiDAR strips and GIS analysis of derived digital models. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: ASPRS LAS Specification 1.4, ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data, USGS Lidar Base Specification, IEC 60825-1, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, ISO 19157-1, Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE).
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree is required.
- An internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with LAStools, TerraScan, CloudCompare, QGIS and PDAL, 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 final project. 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 are recognised in a higher programme in the same area (postgraduate diploma or master's). Ask about the recognition policy when you enrol.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), a computer able to run the software, 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.
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