Urban Air Quality and Regulations Course
Online course of 300 hours in urban air quality and regulations, structured in 6 modules covering urban air pollution, the regulatory framework, measurement and monitoring, emission inventories and dispersion modelling, and improvement measures under Directive (EU) 2024/2881 and Royal Decree 102/2011, 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
Identify the main urban air pollutants and their sources.
Apply the limit values of European and Spanish regulations.
Design and validate air quality measurement campaigns.
Build emission inventories for urban sources.
Use dispersion models to assess scenarios.
Assess the effectiveness of improvement measures such as low emission zones.
Produce an air quality study for a city.
Who it's for
- Air quality technicians.
- Environmental data analysts working with monitoring networks.
- Atmospheric dispersion modellers.
- Municipal environmental officers.
- Impact assessment consultants.
- Environmental health specialists.
- Engineering or science graduates aiming to work in local and regional authorities.
What you'll work with
- Directive (EU) 2024/2881 (ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe)
- Directive 2008/50/EC (ambient air quality)
- Royal Decree 102/2011 (improvement of air quality in Spain)
- Law 34/2007 (Spanish law on air quality and atmospheric protection)
- Directive (EU) 2016/2284 (reduction of national emissions (national emission ceilings))
- Royal Decree 1052/2022 (regulation of low emission zones)
- UNE-EN 14211 (standard method for measuring NO2 and NO by chemiluminescence)
- UNE-EN 12341 (gravimetric method for measuring PM10 and PM2.5)
- AERMOD
- ADMS-Urban
- COPERT
- R with openair
- QGIS
6 modules
1.1Composition of the urban atmosphere1.2Pollutants: NO2, PM10, PM2.5, O3 and SO21.3Sources: traffic, heating, industry and ports1.4Primary and secondary pollutants1.5Meteorology and dispersion1.6Temperature inversions and pollution episodes1.7Health effects1.82021 WHO guidelines1.9Air quality in Spanish cities1.10Case study: analysis of a pollution episode
2.1Directive (EU) 2024/2881 on ambient air quality2.2Limit and target values2.3Royal Decree 102/20112.4Air quality improvement plans2.5Information and alert thresholds2.6Zoning and agglomerations2.7National Air Quality Index2.8Responsibilities of public authorities2.9European case law on non-compliance2.10Practical exercise: compliance assessment with official data
3.1Monitoring networks and stations3.2Reference measurement methods3.3Chemiluminescence, gravimetry and UV absorption3.4Low-cost sensors and their calibration3.5Passive diffusion samplers3.6Data quality control3.7Remote sensing with the Sentinel-5P satellite3.8Design of measurement campaigns3.9Statistical processing of time series3.10Lab: validation of sensors against a reference station
4.1Emission inventories4.2Traffic emission factors: COPERT4.3Gaussian plume models4.4Urban dispersion models4.5Regional photochemical models4.6Air quality forecasting4.7Microscale models in street canyons4.8Model validation4.9Reduction scenarios4.10Workshop: dispersion simulation of an urban road
5.1Low emission zones5.2Traffic restrictions during episodes5.3Fleet electrification5.4Heating systems and biomass5.5Port and airport emissions5.6Green infrastructure and its effect5.7Assessing the effectiveness of measures5.8Communication to the public5.9Public health and economic cost5.10Case study: assessment of a city's low emission zone
6.1Selection of the city and the problem6.2Analysis of monitoring data6.3Inventory of main sources6.4Modelling of the current situation6.5Comparison with limit values6.6Proposal of measures6.7Assessment of future scenarios6.8Monitoring plan6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The course 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 it fits around your job.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is AERMOD, ADMS-Urban, COPERT, R with openair and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures: analysis of air quality time series, calibration of low-cost sensors and urban dispersion modelling. Assessment is continuous per module plus the final project.
Standards covered: Directive (EU) 2024/2881; Directive 2008/50/EC; Royal Decree 102/2011; Law 34/2007; Directive (EU) 2016/2284; Royal Decree 1052/2022; UNE-EN 14211; UNE-EN 12341.
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 able to run the programme's 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 AERMOD, ADMS-Urban, COPERT, R with openair 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's 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.
Related programmes
Rolling Stock Course: Maintenance and Operation
Online course of 300 hours in rolling stock maintenance and operation, structured in 6 modules covering rolling stock types and subsystems, maintenance organisation, bogie and running…
Cold-Ironing in Ports Course
Online 300-hour course on Cold-Ironing in Ports. 6 modules covering IEC/IEEE 80005-1, port connection systems: high-voltage connection, IEC/IEEE 80005-3, low-voltage connection and ETAP. Assigned tutor and…
Course on Anchors and Screens in Urban Tunnels
Online course of 300 hours in ground anchors and diaphragm walls in urban tunnels, structured in 6 modules covering urban tunnels and their support, walls in…
More in Civil, Rail & Smart Cities
All Civil, Rail & Smart Cities programmes → · How to apply · Fees & financing · Scholarships