Course on Urban River Management and Ecological Restoration
Online course of 300 hours in urban river management and ecological restoration. 6 modules covering urban river degradation, hydromorphology and diagnosis, restoration techniques, integrated river management and assessment and monitoring, applying the Water Framework Directive 2000/60/EC and Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 on nature restoration, with an assigned technical tutor.
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 the degradation processes affecting urban rivers.
Diagnose the hydromorphological and ecological status of a river reach.
Select suitable restoration and bioengineering techniques.
Integrate restoration with flood risk management.
Design monitoring and adaptive management programmes.
Apply the European and Spanish water regulatory framework.
Prepare a restoration project for an urban river.
Who it's for
- River restoration technicians.
- Forestry and natural environment engineers.
- Managers of urban river spaces.
- Environmental consultants working on water bodies.
- River basin authority technicians.
- Land stewardship project coordinators.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to work in river basin authorities.
What you'll work with
- Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive)
- Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001 (consolidated text of the Spanish Water Act)
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 (nature restoration)
- Royal Decree 817/2015 (criteria for monitoring and assessing the status of surface waters)
- Directive 92/43/EEC (Habitats Directive)
- Royal Decree 630/2013 (Spanish catalogue of invasive alien species)
- Directive 2007/60/EC (assessment and management of flood risks)
- Law 42/2007 (Natural Heritage and Biodiversity)
- QGIS
- HEC-RAS
- Iber
- R for ecological analysis
6 modules
1.1Ecological and social functions of urban rivers1.2The urban stream syndrome1.3Channelisation, culverting and embankments1.4Alteration of the flow regime1.5Diffuse pollution and discharges1.6Loss of riparian vegetation1.7Fragmentation and transverse barriers1.8Spread of invasive species1.9Public perception of the river1.10Case study: diagnosis of a degraded urban reach
2.1Fluvial geomorphology and channel dynamics2.2Sediment transport2.3IHG hydrogeomorphological index2.4QBR riparian forest quality index2.5MITECO hydromorphology protocol2.6Biological indicators: macroinvertebrates and fish2.7Ecological status under the Water Framework Directive2.8Ecological flow regime2.9River space and river corridor2.10Practical exercise: applying the QBR index in the field
3.1Removal of barriers and weirs3.2Recovery of meanders and channel alignment3.3Daylighting of rivers3.4Bioengineering: fascines, live stakes and cribwalls3.5Revegetation with native species3.6Control of invasive species3.7Fish ladders and passes3.8Reconnection with the floodplain3.9Improving water quality3.10Workshop: design of a bioengineering intervention
4.1Spanish National River Restoration Strategy4.2River basin management plans4.3Compatibility with flood risk management4.4Recreational uses and river parks4.5Land stewardship and volunteering4.6Governance across administrations4.7Funding and European funds4.8Communication and participation4.9Long-term monitoring4.10Case study: the Manzanares river and the Cheonggyecheon
5.1Designing monitoring programmes5.2Physical, chemical and biological indicators5.3Before-after control-impact (BACI) assessment5.4Ecosystem services and their valuation5.5Remote sensing and drones in monitoring5.6Adaptive management of restoration5.7Lessons from failed projects5.8Costs and benefits of restoration5.9Preparing technical reports5.10Lab: analysis of biological indicators
6.1Delimitation of the reach and objectives6.2Hydromorphological diagnosis of the reach6.3Ecological and riparian diagnosis6.4Definition of interventions6.5Technical design of the measures6.6Social integration and uses6.7Budget and phasing6.8Monitoring plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with your tutor
How you'll learn
100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: you progress at your own pace within the intake, so it fits around your work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, HEC-RAS, Iber and R for ecological analysis, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for hydromorphological diagnosis of urban reaches, design of bioengineering interventions and ecological monitoring programmes. Assessment is continuous per module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive 2000/60/EC, Royal Legislative Decree 1/2001, Regulation (EU) 2024/1991, Royal Decree 817/2015, Directive 92/43/EEC, Royal Decree 630/2013, Directive 2007/60/EC, Law 42/2007.
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
- 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.
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 QGIS, HEC-RAS, Iber and R for ecological analysis, 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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