Drone course for mining
Online course of 300 hours in drones for mining, structured in 6 modules covering mine surveying and volumetrics, blasting and geotechnics, underground mining, exploration and the environment, with an assigned technical tutor.
Drone course for mining — studying from Malta
Malta's aerospace activity is concentrated around Malta International Airport at Luqa, where aircraft maintenance, cabin interiors and aviation services form a significant part of the local economy. The island's aviation sector is supported by a long-established regulatory framework and a growing interest in drone operations and advanced air mobility. Engineers here commonly find work with aircraft maintenance organisations, aviation services providers and companies engaged in unmanned systems testing. Expertise in airworthiness, systems integration and regulatory compliance is particularly valued by employers operating within this niche but internationally connected market.
Fees for Malta: €546 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Which professional bodies in Malta recognise engineers working in aerospace, UAM, drones and space, and how does that affect my title?
Malta's Chamber of Engineers (KSU) regulates the use of the title 'engineer' under the Engineering Profession Act. Aviation safety is overseen by the Malta Competition and Consumers Affairs Authority's aviation counterpart, Transport Malta's Civil Aviation Directorate, which licenses operators and certain technical staff. A private SEIUM qualification does not itself grant a regulated title; recognition depends on the employer or the relevant body.
Which employers in Malta might hire someone with an aerospace or drone engineering background?
Malta has an aviation sector centred on Malta International Airport, aircraft maintenance and MRO activity, and a growing drone and space-related presence at the University of Malta and in private firms. Employers vary in their hiring criteria. A private qualification can support a application, but employers will weigh it against experience and any formal credentials they require.
Can I realistically study this 1,900-hour programme while working full time in Malta, and do I need a visa?
Programmes are fully online and taught in English, so you can study from home in Malta or elsewhere without a student visa. Each student gets an assigned technical tutor. Workload should be planned around your job; 1,900 hours is substantial, so most working professionals spread it over a long period. Ask about employer sponsorship and instalment fee options before enrolling.
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
Integrate drones into the phases of the mining cycle.
Carry out high-accuracy surveys and volumetric calculations.
Apply aerial data to the design and assessment of blasts.
Assess slope stability using point clouds.
Operate drones in underground mining in compliance with ATEX requirements.
Use drones for environmental monitoring and restoration.
Plan the implementation of drones in a mining operation.
Who it's for
- Mine surveyors adopting drone-based surveying.
- Mining engineers.
- Geotechnical technicians.
- UAS pilots working in industrial environments.
- Mining geospatial data analysts.
- Environmental restoration technicians.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter metal mining.
What you'll work with
- Royal Decree 863/1985 (General Regulation on Basic Mining Safety Rules)
- Royal Decree 975/2009 (management of waste from extractive industries)
- Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX equipment for explosive atmospheres)
- Mining Act 22/1973 (Spanish mining law)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules for operating unmanned aircraft)
- Royal Decree 1389/1997 (health and safety in mining activities)
- Directive 2006/21/EC (management of waste from extractive industries)
- Propeller Aero
- Pix4Dmapper
- Deswik
- CloudCompare
- Emesent Hovermap
6 modules
1.1The mining cycle: exploration, extraction and closure1.2Open-pit and underground mining1.3Quarries and aggregates1.4Typical hazards in a mine1.5Advantages of drones in mining1.6Interaction with heavy machinery1.7Integration into the mine work plan1.8Mining safety and the competent authority1.9Experience from major mining companies1.10Case study: introducing drones in a quarry
2.1Periodic surveys of the pit2.2Stockpile volume calculation2.3Production reconciliation2.4Design of benches and berms2.5Monitoring of slopes and deformation2.6Monitoring of waste dumps2.7Tailings ponds and dams2.8Management of multi-temporal data2.9Accuracy required in mining2.10Practical: stockpile volume calculation with point clouds
3.1Mapping of faces and discontinuities3.2Photogrammetry for blast design3.3Fragmentation analysis3.4Monitoring of fumes and dust3.5Post-blast safety checks3.6Slope geotechnics with point clouds3.7Interferometric radar and drones3.8Vibration sensors3.9Geomechanical classification3.10Lab: fragmentation analysis with aerial imagery
4.1Drones in GNSS-denied environments4.2Drones with protective cages4.3Mobile LiDAR in drifts and chambers4.4Inspection of raises and shafts4.5Explosive atmospheres and ATEX certification4.6Ventilation and gas measurement4.7Underground communications4.8Mine rescue4.9SLAM in drifts4.10Workshop: modelling an underground chamber with SLAM LiDAR
5.1Airborne magnetometry with drones5.2Hyperspectral remote sensing of minerals5.3Restoration of mining sites5.4Monitoring of vegetation in restoration5.5Control of water and runoff5.6Dust emissions5.7Environmental impact assessment5.8Mine closure5.9Communication with local communities5.10Case study: monitoring the restoration of a quarry
6.1Characterisation of the operation6.2Identification of needs6.3Selection of technologies6.4Flight plan and procedures6.5Integration into operations6.6Mining risk analysis6.7Economic assessment6.8Implementation plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final 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 the intake, so you can combine it with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is Propeller Aero, Pix4Dmapper, Deswik, CloudCompare and Emesent Hovermap, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied on real procedures for periodic volumetric surveys, blast fragmentation analysis and SLAM mapping of drifts. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrated project.
Standards covered: Royal Decree 863/1985, Royal Decree 975/2009, Directive 2014/34/EU (ATEX), Mining Act 22/1973, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Royal Decree 1389/1997 and Directive 2006/21/EC.
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 Propeller Aero, Pix4Dmapper, Deswik, CloudCompare and Emesent Hovermap, 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 capable of running 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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