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CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Aerial LiDAR course

Online course of 300 hours in airborne LiDAR. 6 modules covering laser scanning principles, direct georeferencing, acquisition planning, point cloud processing and applications under ASPRS LAS Specification 1.4, the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards and the USGS Lidar Base Specification, with LAStools, PDAL, CloudCompare and TerraScan, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Aerial LiDAR course — studying from Canada

Canada has a substantial aerospace sector, anchored in Montréal and Québec City, with major manufacturers and suppliers such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada and CAE. Ontario's Greater Toronto and Ottawa regions host avionics, satellite and space technology firms, while the Canadian Space Agency coordinates national space programmes, including robotics for the International Space Station. Urban air mobility and drone operations are emerging under Transport Canada's regulatory framework. Engineers in this area typically work on airframe design, systems integration, certification and space mission support.

Fees for Canada: 695 CA$ (Canadian dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Canada

  • Transport Canada
  • Canadian Space Agency
  • Canadian Aviation Regulations (Transport Canada)
  • Aerospace Industries Association of Canada

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Avionics Engineer
  • Certification Engineer
  • Drone Systems Engineer

Questions from Canada

How are fees shown for Canadian learners?

All fees on this site are displayed in Canadian dollars (CAD). Instalment plans are available, and employer sponsorship can be discussed.

Are SEIUM programmes official Canadian degrees?

No. SEIUM qualifications are private awards issued by SEIUM Institute and are not official degrees recognised by Canadian federal or provincial authorities.

Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Understand the measurement principle and types of LiDAR sensors.

02

Apply direct georeferencing using GNSS and inertial systems.

03

Plan LiDAR acquisitions according to the required density and accuracy.

04

Classify point clouds with automatic algorithms.

05

Generate digital terrain models and derived products.

06

Assess data quality against ASPRS standards.

07

Apply airborne LiDAR to forestry, hydrology and infrastructure cases.

Profile

Who it's for

  • LiDAR processing technicians.
  • Active remote sensing specialists.
  • Point cloud analysts.
  • Aerial survey surveyors.
  • 3D mapping engineers.
  • Forest inventory technicians.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter mapping.
Standards & tools

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)
  • ISO 19157-1 (geographic information data quality)
  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for UAS operation)
  • Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE spatial data infrastructure)
  • LAStools
  • PDAL
  • CloudCompare
  • TerraScan
  • QGIS
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Pulse time-of-flight measurement
  2. 1.2Laser radar equation and reflectivity
  3. 1.3Wavelengths: 905 nm and 1550 nm
  4. 1.4Beam divergence and ground footprint
  5. 1.5Multiple returns and full waveform
  6. 1.6Scanning patterns: mirror, prism and Risley
  7. 1.7Eye safety by laser class
  8. 1.8Linear, Geiger-mode and photon-counting sensors
  9. 1.9Comparison between LiDAR and photogrammetry
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: point density calculation by altitude and speed
  1. 2.1GNSS and inertial integration
  2. 2.2Tactical and navigation-grade IMUs
  3. 2.3Post-processing with GNSS base stations
  4. 2.4Boresight and lever-arm calibration
  5. 2.5Sensor time synchronisation
  6. 2.6Error propagation in georeferencing
  7. 2.7Strip adjustment
  8. 2.8Crewed airborne systems versus UAV
  9. 2.9Trajectory quality control
  10. 2.10Lab: GNSS/INS trajectory post-processing
  1. 3.1Platform and sensor selection
  2. 3.2Flight altitude, speed and strip overlap
  3. 3.3Point density by application
  4. 3.4Planning over mountainous terrain
  5. 3.5Control surfaces and references
  6. 3.6Weather conditions and vegetation
  7. 3.7Flight logging and metadata
  8. 3.8Operational requirements in controlled airspace
  9. 3.9Combined flights with an RGB camera
  10. 3.10Workshop: acquisition plan for a road corridor
  1. 4.1LAS and LAZ formats
  2. 4.2Noise and outlier filtering
  3. 4.3Ground classification with progressive algorithms
  4. 4.4Vegetation and building classification
  5. 4.5Classification with machine learning
  6. 4.6Digital terrain and surface models
  7. 4.7Canopy height models
  8. 4.8Breakline extraction
  9. 4.9Point cloud colourisation with imagery
  10. 4.10Lab: point cloud classification with PDAL and LAStools
  1. 5.1Vertical accuracy in open and vegetated terrain
  2. 5.2Forest inventory and biomass
  3. 5.3Flood risk mapping
  4. 5.4Power line corridors
  5. 5.5Archaeology under vegetation cover
  6. 5.6Monitoring of landslides and slopes
  7. 5.73D urban modelling
  8. 5.8Bathymetry with green LiDAR
  9. 5.9Spanish National Aerial Orthophotography Plan (PNOA) and national LiDAR
  10. 5.10Case study: digital terrain model under dense forest
  1. 6.1Definition of accuracy requirements
  2. 6.2System and platform selection
  3. 6.3Acquisition planning
  4. 6.4Trajectory processing
  5. 6.5Point cloud adjustment and classification
  6. 6.6Generation of derived products
  7. 6.7Accuracy validation
  8. 6.8Delivery report
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is LAStools, PDAL, CloudCompare, TerraScan and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for LiDAR acquisition over linear corridors, point cloud classification and vertical validation with control points. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: ASPRS LAS Specification 1.4, ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data, USGS Lidar Base Specification, IEC 60825-1, ISO 19157-1, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE).

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of ASPRS LAS Specification 1.4, the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards and the USGS Lidar Base Specification applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:LAStools, PDAL, CloudCompare, TerraScan and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete airborne LiDAR project, from accuracy requirements and acquisition planning to point cloud classification, derived products and accuracy validation, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

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

Requirements and system
Define the accuracy requirements and select the system and platform.
Acquisition planning
Plan the LiDAR acquisition and process the trajectory.
Point cloud processing
Adjust and classify the point cloud.
Products and validation
Generate derived products and validate their accuracy.
Final project
Deliver the delivery report and presentation, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

LiDAR processing technicianActive remote sensing specialistPoint cloud analystAerial survey surveyor3D mapping engineerForest inventory technician
Admissions & scholarships

Requirements

  • No prior qualification 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.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The programme totals 300 hours over 3 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.

You work with LAStools, PDAL, CloudCompare, TerraScan and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.

A SEIUM Institute certificate, 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.

No prior qualification is required: you need an internet connection, a computer able to run the programme 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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