Postgraduate DiplomaCivil, Rail & Smart Cities Applications open

Postgraduate Diploma in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling

Online 800-hour Postgraduate Diploma in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling. 8 modules covering Directive (EU) 2016/2284 (national emission ceilings), the EMEP/EEA Emission Inventory Guidebook and AERMOD. Dedicated tutor and open enrolment.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute diploma

Postgraduate Diploma in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling — studying from Ireland

Ireland's civil engineering sector is driven by public infrastructure investment in roads, water, housing and public transport, alongside rail projects such as Dublin's light rail and commuter rail upgrades. Transport Infrastructure Ireland sets standards for national roads, while Irish Rail and Iarnród Éireann operate and develop the rail network. Smart city initiatives in Dublin and other urban areas create demand for engineers working on sensors, data platforms and integrated mobility systems. Typical employers include contractors, consultancies, local authorities and public agencies, with Engineers Ireland providing professional recognition.

Fees for Ireland: €895 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in Ireland

  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII)
  • Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann)
  • Engineers Ireland
  • Institution of Engineers of Ireland (IEI)

Typical roles

  • Civil Engineer
  • Rail Systems Engineer
  • Transport Planning Engineer
  • Smart City Infrastructure Engineer

Questions from Ireland

Is a SEIUM qualification recognised for chartered civil or rail engineering status in Ireland?

Chartered engineer status in Ireland is administered by Engineers Ireland, which sets its own criteria for membership and registration. Rail is regulated in part by the National Transport Authority and Irish Rail-related bodies, while building and infrastructure standards involve other authorities. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so recognition is for those bodies and employers to decide.

Do Irish civil, rail and smart-city employers consider private online engineering study?

Irish infrastructure, consultancy and local authority employers usually weigh chartered status, project experience and relevant degrees heavily. A private online qualification may be considered as supporting evidence of skills, but its value is at each employer's discretion. We cannot promise any outcome, so discuss it with prospective employers.

Can I study alongside a site or office job, and is employer funding common?

The programme is online and taught in English, so you can study from home without travel or a student visa. Plan for 1,900 hours on a master's, 800 on a postgraduate diploma or 300 on a specialist course. Each student has an assigned technical tutor, fees can be paid in instalments, and employer sponsorship may be possible. Many Irish employers have continuing professional development budgets, so ask yours.

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Explain the sources and processes of atmospheric pollution.

02

Prepare emission inventories using standardised methodologies.

03

Estimate sectoral emissions using emission factors and activity data.

04

Interpret the meteorology that controls the dispersion of pollutants.

05

Apply Gaussian and Lagrangian dispersion models.

06

Assess the impact of emissions on air quality.

07

Propose measures based on best available techniques and communicate them.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Air quality engineer who wants to specialise in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling.
  • Emission inventory technician who wants to specialise in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling.
  • Atmospheric dispersion modeller who wants to specialise in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling.
  • Environmental impact assessment consultant who wants to specialise in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling.
  • Environmental permitting technician who wants to specialise in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling.
  • Industrial emissions analyst who wants to specialise in Emission Inventories and Dispersion Modelling.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter environmental consultancy.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Directive (EU) 2016/2284 (national emission ceilings)
  • EMEP/EEA Emission Inventory Guidebook
  • 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories
  • Regulation (EC) No 166/2006 (E-PRTR register)
  • Directive 2010/75/EU (industrial emissions)
  • Directive (EU) 2015/2193 (medium combustion plants)
  • ISO 14064-1 (quantification of GHG emissions)
Syllabus

8 modules · 800 h

  1. 1.1Primary and secondary pollutants
  2. 1.2PM10 and PM2.5 particles
  3. 1.3NOx, ozone and photochemistry
  4. 1.4SO2, CO and volatile organic compounds
  5. 1.5Directive (EU) 2024/2881 on ambient air quality
  6. 1.6WHO Guidelines 2021
  7. 1.7Royal Decree 102/2011
  8. 1.8Monitoring and measurement networks
  9. 1.9Health and ecosystem effects
  10. 1.10Workshop: data analysis from an air quality network
  1. 2.1EMEP/EEA methodology
  2. 2.2IPCC guidelines for greenhouse gases
  3. 2.3Spanish National Inventory System
  4. 2.4Emission factors and activity data
  5. 2.5SNAP and NFR classification
  6. 2.6Top-down and bottom-up approaches
  7. 2.7Inventory uncertainty
  8. 2.8Emission projections
  9. 2.9E-PRTR register
  10. 2.10Practical: inventory for a municipality
  1. 3.1Road traffic: COPERT
  2. 3.2Non-exhaust emissions: brakes and tyres
  3. 3.3Residential sector and heating
  4. 3.4Industry and combustion
  5. 3.5Agriculture and ammonia
  6. 3.6Ports and airports
  7. 3.7Biogenic emissions: MEGAN
  8. 3.8Diffuse and fugitive sources
  9. 3.9Spatial and temporal disaggregation
  10. 3.10Laboratory: COPERT calculation for a road corridor
  1. 4.1Atmospheric boundary layer
  2. 4.2Stability and Pasquill classes
  3. 4.3Mixing height
  4. 4.4Wind roses and climatology
  5. 4.5Temperature inversions
  6. 4.6WRF meteorological models
  7. 4.7Surface data and radiosondes
  8. 4.8Flows in urban environments
  9. 4.9Topographic effects
  10. 4.10Practical: meteorological pre-processing for a model
  1. 5.1Gaussian plume model
  2. 5.2AERMOD and its pre-processor
  3. 5.3CALPUFF for medium-range distances
  4. 5.4Street canyon models: OSPM
  5. 5.5Microscale CFD models
  6. 5.6Photochemical models CMAQ and CHIMERE
  7. 5.7Dry and wet deposition
  8. 5.8Plume rise and stacks
  9. 5.9Validation against measurements
  10. 5.10Laboratory: AERMOD simulation of an industrial plant
  1. 6.1Atmospheric environmental impact assessment
  2. 6.2Stack height and good practice
  3. 6.3Source contribution and source apportionment
  4. 6.4Population exposure assessment
  5. 6.5Concentration maps and GIS
  6. 6.6Low emission zones
  7. 6.7Air quality improvement plans
  8. 6.8Emission reduction scenarios
  9. 6.9Uncertainty analysis
  10. 6.10Case study: assessment of a low emission zone
  1. 7.1Emission permits
  2. 7.2Best available techniques
  3. 7.3Continuous monitoring systems
  4. 7.4Pollution episodes and protocols
  5. 7.5Operational air quality forecasting
  6. 7.6Copernicus CAMS
  7. 7.7National air quality index
  8. 7.8Risk communication
  9. 7.9Environmental justice and unequal exposure
  10. 7.10Workshop: NO2 episode protocol
  1. 8.1Definition of the study area
  2. 8.2Emission inventory
  3. 8.3Spatial disaggregation
  4. 8.4Meteorological pre-processing
  5. 8.5Model configuration
  6. 8.6Simulation and validation
  7. 8.7Scenario evaluation
  8. 8.8Proposal of measures
  9. 8.9Report and presentation
  10. 8.10Final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

How you'll learn

100% online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the intake, which makes it compatible with work.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is AERMOD, CALPUFF, WRF, Python (pandas), QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Assignments are based on real procedures for preparing urban emission inventories, dispersion modelling for impact assessments and model validation against station data. Assessment is continuous, module by module, plus the final integrating project.

Hands-on practical workwith industry-standard software, simulation, real case studies and guided practical exercises.
Evidence-driven final project:safety case, test plan, compliance dossier and operational limits.
Industry mentoring:faculty with professional experience in the field and in real industry projects.
Flexible delivery(100% online), international cohorts and support from SEIUM Career Services.
Ethics and safety:a safety-by-design approach, cybersecurity and regulatory 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.

Definition of the study area

Explain the sources and processes of atmospheric pollution.

Emission inventory

Prepare emission inventories using standardised methodologies.

Spatial disaggregation

Estimate sectoral emissions using emission factors and activity data.

Meteorological pre-processing

Interpret the meteorology that controls the dispersion of pollutants.

Model configuration

Apply Gaussian and Lagrangian dispersion models.

Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Air quality engineerEmission inventory technicianAtmospheric dispersion modellerEnvironmental impact assessment consultantEnvironmental permitting technicianIndustrial emissions analyst
Admissions & scholarships

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 English 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.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

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

The course uses AERMOD, CALPUFF, WRF, Python (pandas) and QGIS. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.

An institutional diploma from SEIUM Institute 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 recognised towards the higher-level programme. Please check the recognition policy when you enrol.

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