Course on the Conservation of Historic Urban Centers
Online course of 300 hours in conservation of historic urban centres, structured in 6 modules covering historic centres as heritage, analysis and inventory, protection planning, heritage intervention and historic centre management, with an assigned technical tutor.
Course on the Conservation of Historic Urban Centers — studying from the United States
Civil and transportation engineering is a large and visible sector in the United States, supported by federal infrastructure investment and active state and municipal programs. Major firms such as AECOM, Jacobs and Kiewit work on highways, bridges, rail and water systems nationwide. Rail engineering, centered on corridors in the Northeast, Midwest and California, is expanding with passenger and freight modernization. Smart city initiatives in cities like Pittsburgh, Boston and Austin integrate sensors, data platforms and digital twins into infrastructure planning and operations.
Fees for the United States: US$610 (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in the United States
Typical roles
Questions from the United States
What US professional bodies and licences apply to civil and rail engineering?
In the US, civil engineers can obtain the Professional Engineer (PE) licence from state boards, which is often required for public infrastructure sign-off. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) is the main professional body. Rail is overseen federally by the Federal Railroad Administration. SEIUM's private qualifications are not official degrees or PE-equivalent credentials, so employers and licensing boards decide any recognition.
Do US civil, rail and smart-city employers value private online engineering qualifications?
US public agencies and engineering firms typically require ABET-accredited degrees, PE licensure for certain roles, and relevant project experience. A private online qualification can support specialist knowledge in areas such as smart infrastructure, but it is not a standard requirement for licensed roles. Its usefulness depends on the employer's policies and on your practical background.
Can a US professional study this part-time while working, and what does the commitment look like?
Yes, the programmes are online, taught in English, and do not require a student visa. The time commitment is about 1,900 hours for a master's, 800 hours for a postgraduate diploma, or 300 hours for a specialist course, so planning is important. Each student has an assigned technical tutor. Fees can be paid in instalments, and some employers sponsor training, so check with yours.
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 values of and threats to historic centres.
Apply international heritage charters and conventions.
Document and catalogue urban heritage.
Interpret protection planning instruments.
Propose interventions compatible with heritage values.
Design integrated management models for the historic centre.
Prepare a conservation project for a historic centre.
Who it's for
- Heritage architects.
- Urban conservation technicians.
- Historic centre managers.
- Urban planners.
- Urban archaeologists.
- Cultural heritage consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to join local or regional government.
What you'll work with
- Ley 16/1985 (Spanish Historical Heritage Act)
- 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention
- 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape
- 1964 Venice Charter (conservation and restoration of monuments and sites)
- 1987 Washington Charter (conservation of historic towns and urban areas)
- Real Decreto Legislativo 7/2015 (consolidated Spanish Land and Urban Regeneration Act)
- CTE DB-HE (Spanish Building Code, energy saving)
- UNE-EN 16883 (conservation of cultural heritage: improving the energy performance of historic buildings)
- QGIS
- Agisoft Metashape
- Revit
- CloudCompare
- AutoCAD
6 modules
1.1Evolution of the concept of the historic centre1.2The Athens, Venice and Washington Charters1.3The UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape1.4World Heritage Cities in Spain1.5Historic, artistic and social values1.6Authenticity and integrity1.7Threats and risks to the historic centre1.8Depopulation and the shift to tertiary uses1.9National heritage plans1.10Case study: values of a designated historic ensemble
2.1Historical reading of the plot structure2.2Traditional building typologies2.3Protection catalogues2.4Surveys and photogrammetry2.5Laser scanning and HBIM models2.6Building pathology studies2.7Preventive urban archaeology2.8Historical cartography and GIS2.9Documentation of intangible heritage2.10Lab: building catalogue with QGIS
3.1Special protection plans3.2Protection levels and permitted works3.3Aesthetic and land-use bylaws3.4Control of heights and views3.5Settings of listed heritage assets (BIC)3.6Approval procedures and heritage committees3.7Management of vacant plots and ruins3.8Rehabilitation versus replacement3.9Incentive instruments3.10Practical exercise: analysis of a special plan for a historic quarter
4.1Restoration criteria4.2Rehabilitation of residential buildings4.3Compatible structural strengthening4.4Energy efficiency in historic buildings4.5Accessibility in protected settings4.6Traditional materials and techniques4.7Intervention in historic public space4.8Concealed infrastructure and utilities4.9Seismic and flood risks4.10Workshop: rehabilitation proposal for a protected façade
5.1Integrated management models5.2Historic centre offices5.3Mobility and restricted access5.4Traditional retail and economic activity5.5Housing and resident population5.6Managing tourism pressure5.7Financing and the 1.5% cultural allocation5.8Resident participation5.9Management plans for UNESCO sites5.10Case study: management plan for a historic ensemble
6.1Boundaries and values6.2Condition assessment6.3Catalogue of elements6.4Protection strategy6.5Intervention proposals6.6Mobility and public space6.7Management model6.8Conservation indicators6.9Report and presentation6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
A 100% online programme 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 can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original regulations and applied exercises. The working software is QGIS, Agisoft Metashape, Revit, CloudCompare and AutoCAD, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Exercises are based on real procedures for photogrammetric surveys, building pathology studies and the preparation of protection catalogues. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final project.
Standards covered: Ley 16/1985, the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the 2011 UNESCO Recommendation on the Historic Urban Landscape, the 1964 Venice Charter, the 1987 Washington Charter, Real Decreto Legislativo 7/2015, CTE DB-HE and UNE-EN 16883.
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, Agisoft Metashape, Revit, CloudCompare and AutoCAD, 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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