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CourseAerospace, UAM, Drones & Space Applications open

Topographic mapping course with UAV

Online course of 300 hours in UAV topographic mapping. 6 modules covering applied surveying and geodesy, precise GNSS positioning, aerial surveys, topographic products and engineering applications under Royal Decree 1071/2007, the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards and ISO 17123-8, with Autodesk Civil 3D, RTKLIB, Pix4Dmatic and Global Mapper, with an assigned technical tutor.

Duration3 months
ModeOnline
LanguageEnglish
Start datesSet by the faculty
AwardSEIUM Institute certificate
Enrol now View syllabus Ask an advisor

Topographic mapping course with UAV — studying from the United States

The United States leads global aerospace, anchored by clusters in Seattle, Wichita, Hartford, Huntsville and the Houston area. Major employers such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, RTX and GE Aerospace drive demand for engineers in airframes, propulsion, avionics and systems integration. Urban air mobility and commercial drone operations are expanding quickly, creating new roles in eVTOL design, airspace integration and UAS operations. Civil and military programs both rely heavily on certified design, testing and airworthiness processes, making this a strong field for engineers seeking complex, high-impact work.

Fees for the United States: 500 US$ (US Dollars), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.

Relevant bodies in the United States

  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
  • National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
  • SAE International
  • RTCA, Inc.

Typical roles

  • Aerospace Engineer
  • Flight Test Engineer
  • Propulsion Systems Engineer
  • UAS Systems Engineer

Questions from the United States

Are SEIUM qualifications accredited in the United States?

SEIUM qualifications are private qualifications and are not official state degrees or accredited higher education awards. Please check with the relevant employer or licensing board about how any credential will be viewed for your purposes.

Will this help me become a licensed Professional Engineer?

SEIUM programmes do not replace the education, examination and experience requirements set by state licensing boards. They can support your professional development, but licensure requirements must be confirmed directly with your state board.

Virtual lab · try it before you enrol

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Learning outcomes

What you will be able to do

01

Apply geodetic reference systems and coordinate transformations.

02

Use precise GNSS techniques in UAV surveys.

03

Design ground control networks for aerial surveys.

04

Choose between photogrammetry and LiDAR for each surveying assignment.

05

Generate terrain models, contour lines and CAD drawings.

06

Control the accuracy of topographic products.

07

Apply UAV surveying to civil works and mining.

Profile

Who it's for

  • Site surveyors.
  • Aerial survey technicians.
  • Cartographic draughtspersons.
  • Geomatics engineers.
  • Heads of surveying departments.
  • Cadastre technicians.
  • Engineering or science graduates looking to enter construction and infrastructure.
Standards & tools

What you'll work with

  • Royal Decree 1071/2007 (official geodetic reference system in Spain)
  • ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data (accuracy classes for geospatial products)
  • ISO 17123-8 (field test procedures for GNSS RTK equipment)
  • Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for UAS operation)
  • ISO 19111 (referencing by coordinates)
  • Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE spatial data infrastructure)
  • Royal Decree 517/2024 (Spanish UAS regulation)
  • Autodesk Civil 3D
  • RTKLIB
  • Pix4Dmatic
  • Global Mapper
  • QGIS
Syllabus

6 modules

  1. 1.1Geodetic networks and reference stations
  2. 1.2ETRS89 system and UTM projection
  3. 1.3EGM08-REDNAP geoid model
  4. 1.4Coordinates, ellipsoidal and orthometric heights
  5. 1.5Systematic and random errors
  6. 1.6Tolerances in topographic surveys
  7. 1.7Classic instruments: total station and GNSS
  8. 1.8Map representation scales
  9. 1.9Comparison of aerial and terrestrial methods
  10. 1.10Practical exercise: coordinate transformation with PROJ
  1. 2.1Code and carrier phase measurement
  2. 2.2RTK techniques and NTRIP networks
  3. 2.3PPK post-processing
  4. 2.4PPP positioning
  5. 2.5Multipath and cycle slips
  6. 2.6Antennas and receivers on UAVs
  7. 2.7GNSS base stations in the field
  8. 2.8RGAP network and regional services
  9. 2.9Estimation of positional accuracy
  10. 2.10Lab: PPK post-processing with RTKLIB
  1. 3.1Design of the ground control network
  2. 3.2Optimal target distribution
  3. 3.3Choosing between photogrammetry and LiDAR
  4. 3.4Flights at constant height above ground
  5. 3.5Terrain following with a digital model
  6. 3.6Surveying linear corridors
  7. 3.7Capture in areas of dense vegetation
  8. 3.8Data logging and field diary
  9. 3.9Handling incidents in the field
  10. 3.10Workshop: ground control design for a 50-hectare survey
  1. 4.1Digital terrain model with breaklines
  2. 4.2TIN triangulation
  3. 4.3Contour lines with an appropriate interval
  4. 4.4Restitution of planimetric features
  5. 4.5Longitudinal and cross profiles
  6. 4.6Earthwork volume calculation
  7. 4.7Drawings in CAD format
  8. 4.8Multi-temporal comparisons
  9. 4.9Tolerances according to drawing scale
  10. 4.10Lab: generating topographic drawings in Civil 3D
  1. 5.1Road and railway projects
  2. 5.2Setting out and construction control
  3. 5.3Urban developments and land subdivisions
  4. 5.4Dams and canals
  5. 5.5Boundary surveys and cadastre
  6. 5.6Landfills and fill control
  7. 5.7Open-pit mining
  8. 5.8Slope monitoring
  9. 5.9BIM models of infrastructure
  10. 5.10Case study: earthworks control on a motorway
  1. 6.1Definition of the assignment and tolerances
  2. 6.2Design of the ground control network
  3. 6.3Flight planning
  4. 6.4Acquisition and positioning
  5. 6.5Processing and terrain model
  6. 6.6Generation of drawings
  7. 6.7Quality and accuracy control
  8. 6.8Topographic report
  9. 6.9Report and presentation
  10. 6.10Final project: final review with the tutor
Methodology, software & labs

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 each intake, so it fits around your job.

Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standards and applied exercises. The working software is Autodesk Civil 3D, RTKLIB, Pix4Dmatic, Global Mapper and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for surveys with GNSS ground control in the field, PPK trajectory post-processing and volume control on construction sites. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.

Standards covered: Royal Decree 1071/2007 (official geodetic reference system), ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data, ISO 17123-8, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, ISO 19111, Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE), Royal Decree 517/2024.

Assigned technical tutor:every module ends with a deliverable that your tutor marks individually.
Standards-based learning:guided reading of Royal Decree 1071/2007, the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards and ISO 17123-8 applied to real cases, not as a theoretical annex.
Industry software:Autodesk Civil 3D, RTKLIB, Pix4Dmatic, Global Mapper and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions.
Final project:a complete UAV topographic survey, from tolerances and ground control design to the terrain model, drawings and topographic report, reviewed by your tutor.
Flexible format:100% online, no fixed timetables, compatible with full-time work.
Capstone project

Build it end to end

Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.

Assignment and ground control
Define the assignment and tolerances and design the ground control network.
Flight and acquisition
Plan the flight and carry out acquisition and positioning.
Terrain model and drawings
Process the data into a terrain model and generate the drawings.
Quality control
Check the quality and accuracy of the topographic products.
Final project
Deliver the topographic report and presentation, reviewed by your tutor.
Career opportunities

Where this takes you

Site surveyorAerial survey technicianCartographic draughtspersonGeomatics engineerHead of surveyingCadastre technician
Admissions & scholarships

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.

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FAQ

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 Autodesk Civil 3D, RTKLIB, Pix4Dmatic, Global Mapper 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 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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