Photogrammetry course with drones
Online course of 300 hours in drone photogrammetry. 6 modules covering photogrammetric principles, flight planning and capture, SfM processing, products and quality control and professional applications under the ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards, ISO 19157-1 and Regulation (EU) 2019/947, with Agisoft Metashape, Pix4Dmapper, QGIS and CloudCompare, with an assigned technical tutor.
Photogrammetry course with drones — studying from South Africa
South Africa has a long-standing aerospace base, anchored by the Western Cape cluster around Cape Town and the Gauteng aerospace corridor near Johannesburg. Companies such as Denel Aerospace Systems, Aerosud and Airbus-linked suppliers in the Western Cape draw on local engineering talent. The South African Civil Aviation Authority oversees airworthiness and drone regulation, while the South African National Space Agency coordinates national space activity. Demand for skills in aircraft systems, unmanned aerial systems and satellite engineering continues to grow across both regions.
Fees for South Africa: R 12 000 (South African rand), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in South Africa
Typical roles
Questions from South Africa
Will a SEIUM qualification be recognised by the South African Council for Aeronautical and Engineering Professions or ECSA?
SEIUM is a private online institute and its qualifications are not official state degrees or accredited by a national body. In South Africa, professional registration is handled by bodies such as ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) and SACAP for built environment roles, and aviation licensing by the SACAA. Recognition of a private qualification is decided by the employer or the relevant body, so check directly with them before enrolling.
Would this qualification help me get work with aerospace or drone employers in South Africa?
Employers in South Africa's aerospace and drone sector, such as aircraft maintenance organisations, defence contractors and drone operators, usually weigh experience, licensing and university credentials heavily. A private online qualification can support your CV and show specialist knowledge, but it does not guarantee hiring or a particular role. Ask prospective employers whether they value the programme before you commit.
Can I manage the workload while working full time, and do I need to be fluent in English?
The programme is 100% online and taught in English, so you need solid working English. Study is fully remote, so no student visa is needed to study from home. Master's programmes total 1,900 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and specialist courses 300 hours, with an assigned technical tutor. Plan your weekly hours realistically, and ask whether employer sponsorship or instalment payment could help with fees.
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 geometric fundamentals of photogrammetry.
Plan photogrammetric flights according to the required accuracy.
Georeference image blocks with ground control points and RTK.
Process images using Structure from Motion.
Generate orthomosaics, digital models and point clouds.
Assess product accuracy against standards.
Apply drone photogrammetry to professional cases.
Who it's for
- Photogrammetry technicians.
- Mapping drone operators.
- Geospatial data analysts.
- Surveyors working with UAVs.
- Digital twin technicians.
- Mapping consultants.
- Engineering or science graduates looking to enter surveying and mapping.
What you'll work with
- ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data (accuracy classes for geospatial products)
- ISO 19157-1 (geographic information data quality)
- Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 (rules and procedures for UAS operation)
- Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE spatial data infrastructure)
- Royal Decree 1071/2007 (official geodetic reference system in Spain)
- ISO 19115-1 (geographic information metadata)
- Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR, protection of personal data)
- Agisoft Metashape
- Pix4Dmapper
- QGIS
- CloudCompare
- OpenDroneMap
6 modules
1.1Projective geometry and the camera model1.2Interior and exterior orientation1.3Collinearity equations1.4Stereoscopic vision and parallax1.5Ground sampling distance (GSD)1.6Forward and side overlap1.7Reference systems and map projections1.8ETRS89 datum and orthometric heights1.9Precision and accuracy in photogrammetry1.10Practical exercise: GSD calculation and overlap plan
2.1Camera selection and global or rolling shutter2.2Exposure parameters and motion blur2.3Grid and double-grid flight planning2.4Oblique flights for 3D models2.5Ground control and check points2.6RTK and PPK direct georeferencing2.7Light and weather conditions2.8Regulations for operations in urban areas2.9Quality control in the field2.10Workshop: photogrammetric flight plan in Pix4Dcapture
3.1Structure from Motion3.2SIFT keypoint detection and matching3.3Bundle adjustment3.4Camera self-calibration3.5MVS densification3.6Point clouds and filtering3.7Textured meshes3.8Digital surface and terrain models3.9Orthomosaics and seamlines3.10Lab: full processing workflow in Agisoft Metashape
4.1Point cloud classification4.2Contour lines and profiles4.3Volume calculation4.4Accuracy assessment with RMSE4.5ASPRS positional accuracy standards4.6Processing quality reports4.7LAS, GeoTIFF and OBJ formats4.8Integration into GIS and BIM4.9Delivery and metadata4.10Case study: quality control of an orthomosaic
5.1Cadastral mapping5.2Civil works monitoring5.3Volume measurement in quarries and stockpiles5.4Heritage and architectural documentation5.5Urban digital twins5.6Façade inspection5.7Forensic analysis of accidents5.8Agriculture and forestry5.9Service costing and budgeting5.10Case study: survey of an archaeological site
6.1Definition of objectives and accuracies6.2Flight and ground control planning6.3Field data capture6.4Photogrammetric processing6.5Product generation6.6Accuracy assessment6.7GIS integration6.8Technical results report6.9Report 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 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 Agisoft Metashape, Pix4Dmapper, QGIS, CloudCompare and OpenDroneMap, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Practical work is based on real procedures for photogrammetric surveys with ground control points, SfM processing of image blocks and accuracy assessment with check points. Assessment is continuous by module, plus the final capstone project.
Standards covered: ASPRS Positional Accuracy Standards for Digital Geospatial Data, ISO 19157-1, Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947, Directive 2007/2/EC (INSPIRE), Royal Decree 1071/2007 (geodetic reference system), ISO 19115-1, Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (GDPR).
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 Agisoft Metashape, Pix4Dmapper, QGIS, CloudCompare and OpenDroneMap, 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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