Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
This professional diploma gives you the tools and expert knowledge to process aerial and satellite imagery, from data acquisition to high-precision 3D models and orthomosaics. You will learn to plan capture campaigns with drones, aircraft and satellites, work with RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, LiDAR and radar sensors, and turn remote data into reliable geospatial information for mapping, coastal and environmental monitoring, infrastructure management, precision agriculture and construction.
Prior knowledge check
These are the skills this program gives you. Tick the ones you already master and we will tell you which part of the syllabus is for you.
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What is the Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing?
This professional diploma prepares you to capture, process and interpret geospatial data obtained with remote sensors. You will study the principles of photogrammetry and remote sensing and how sensor, platform, capture geometry and image quality determine the accuracy of the final product; how to choose cameras and sensors and plan flights or campaigns with overlaps, GSD and ground control points; how aerotriangulation, block adjustment and image matching generate dense point clouds, digital surface and terrain models and orthomosaics; how to apply radiometric and atmospheric corrections, spectral indices such as NDVI and NDWI, classification and change detection; and how LiDAR, SAR radar, interferometry and thermal sensors extend what can be observed, before integrating everything in a GIS.
What sets this professional diploma apart: a complete workflow from capture planning to the delivery of validated products; a multisensor approach that combines optical, LiDAR, radar and thermal data; a strong focus on accuracy, with control and check points, error analysis and ISO geographic information standards; practical applications in mapping, cadastre, coastal and environmental monitoring, mining volumetrics, infrastructure and heritage; attention to drone flight regulations, metadata and interoperability; and a final project in which you plan, process, analyze and validate a real photogrammetry or remote sensing case.
Program highlights
- Complete workflow: from capture planning to validated geospatial products.
- Sensors and platforms: RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, LiDAR and radar on drones, aircraft and satellites.
- Photogrammetric processing: aerotriangulation, point clouds, digital models and orthomosaics.
- Spectral analysis: corrections, indices, classification and multitemporal change detection.
- Accuracy and standards: error analysis, ISO geographic information standards and metadata.
- Final project: a real photogrammetry or remote sensing case, planned, processed and validated.
Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
8 modules. Select a module to see its content.
Foundations of photogrammetry, remote sensing and the acquisition of geospatial information with remote sensors
- 1.1. The concept of photogrammetry and the differences between remote sensors, remote sensing, digital cartography and geospatial modeling
- 1.2. Principles of capturing aerial, satellite and terrestrial images for the metric reconstruction of land and objects
- 1.3. Fundamentals of radiometry and spatial, spectral, temporal and radiometric resolution in remote sensors
- 1.4. Types of capture platform: satellites, aircraft, drones, ground vehicles and fixed stations
- 1.5. Applications in surveying, agriculture, the environment, urban planning, mining, infrastructure, heritage and risk management
- 1.6. The relationship between sensor, platform, capture geometry, image quality and accuracy of the final product
- 1.7. General workflow from acquisition planning to processing, analysis and delivery of results
- 1.8. A systemic approach to photogrammetry and remote sensing as the integration of optics, geodesy, data and territorial analysis
Cameras, sensors, platforms and planning of geospatial flights or capture campaigns
- 2.1. Types of camera and sensor: RGB, multispectral, hyperspectral, thermal, LiDAR and radar
- 2.2. Technical characteristics of sensors: focal length, pixel size, field of view, calibration and geometric stability
- 2.3. Choosing a platform according to scale, required accuracy, coverage, cost, accessibility and environmental conditions
- 2.4. Planning photogrammetric flights with forward overlap, side overlap, altitude, GSD and capture pattern
- 2.5. Ground control points, check points and strategies for direct and indirect georeferencing
- 2.6. Lighting conditions, weather, shadows, reflectance and operational limitations during acquisition
- 2.7. Safety, permits, field logistics and campaign management in urban, rural, coastal or industrial settings
- 2.8. Building capture plans that ensure the coverage, quality, accuracy and traceability of the data acquired
Photogrammetric processing, image orientation and generation of metric products
- 3.1. Fundamentals of interior, relative and absolute orientation in digital photogrammetric processes
- 3.2. Aerotriangulation, block adjustment and the use of control points to improve geometric accuracy
- 3.3. Tie point detection, image matching and three-dimensional reconstruction using photogrammetric algorithms
- 3.4. Generation of dense point clouds, meshes, digital surface models and digital terrain models
- 3.5. Orthorectification and production of orthomosaics with geometric and radiometric correction
- 3.6. Assessment of accuracy, residual errors, quality control and validation of photogrammetric products
- 3.7. Exporting products in formats compatible with GIS, CAD, BIM and spatial analysis platforms
- 3.8. Building robust processing workflows to obtain reliable, reusable metric products
Optical remote sensing, spectral analysis and interpretation of multispectral and hyperspectral images
- 4.1. Fundamentals of the interaction between electromagnetic radiation, the atmosphere, the Earth's surface and the spectral response of materials
- 4.2. Spectral bands and spectral signatures applied to vegetation, water, soil, urban materials and industrial surfaces
- 4.3. Radiometric, atmospheric and geometric corrections in optical sensor images
- 4.4. Spectral indices such as NDVI, NDWI, NDBI and other indicators for environmental, agricultural and urban analysis
- 4.5. Supervised and unsupervised classification of land cover using spectral information
- 4.6. Temporal change detection and multitemporal analysis to follow territorial phenomena
- 4.7. Visual and digital interpretation of remote images to extract thematic information
- 4.8. Building spectral analysis methodologies that generate verifiable territorial knowledge
LiDAR, radar, thermal sensors and advanced remote observation technologies
- 5.1. Fundamentals of LiDAR and active point cloud capture for three-dimensional modeling of terrain and structures
- 5.2. LiDAR data processing, classification of returns and generation of digital elevation models
- 5.3. Fundamentals of radar and SAR sensors for observing surfaces under cloud cover, at night or in low visibility
- 5.4. Applications of radar interferometry to deformation, subsidence, infrastructure monitoring and geodynamic analysis
- 5.5. Thermal sensors and surface temperature analysis in agriculture, energy, industry, buildings and the environment
- 5.6. Fusion of data from optical, LiDAR, radar and thermal sensors for advanced geospatial analysis
- 5.7. Technical limitations, noise, calibration and validation of advanced remote sensing technologies
- 5.8. Building multisensor solutions to improve the accuracy, coverage and interpretive power of territorial analysis
Geospatial applications, GIS, 3D modeling and territorial analysis with photogrammetric and remote data
- 6.1. Integration of orthomosaics, digital models, point clouds and thematic layers in geographic information systems
- 6.2. Applications in cartography, cadastre, urban planning, infrastructure management and construction control
- 6.3. Applications in precision agriculture, plant health, water stress, productivity and crop monitoring
- 6.4. Environmental applications: vegetation cover, water bodies, erosion, wildfires, biodiversity and land-use change
- 6.5. Applications in mining, quarries, volumetrics, earthworks and monitoring of industrial assets
- 6.6. 3D modeling of cities, buildings, heritage, road corridors and natural environments using photogrammetric products
- 6.7. Visualization, spatial analysis and communication of results for technical and strategic decision-making
- 6.8. Building applied geospatial products that turn remote data into useful information for territorial management
Quality control, accuracy and standards for geospatial products
- 7.1. Sources of error in photogrammetry and remote sensing
- 7.2. Control and check points in the field
- 7.3. Assessment of positional accuracy
- 7.4. ISO geographic information standards
- 7.5. Metadata and interoperability standards
- 7.6. Regulation of drone flights for mapping
- 7.7. Delivery of products and technical documentation
- 7.8. Quality audit of the geospatial project
Applied final project in photogrammetry and remote sensing
- 8.1. Definition of the case study: area, infrastructure, crop, natural environment, city or territorial asset to be analyzed
- 8.2. Selection of sensors, capture platform, scale, resolution and data acquisition strategy
- 8.3. Campaign planning, control points, flight parameters or selection of satellite images
- 8.4. Photogrammetric or remote processing to generate orthomosaics, digital models, point clouds or thematic layers
- 8.5. Analysis and interpretation of results using GIS tools, classification, spectral indices or 3D modeling
- 8.6. Assessment of the accuracy, quality, limitations and technical usefulness of the products obtained
- 8.7. Preparation of a comprehensive technical report with methodology, results, validation and applications of the case
- 8.8. Presentation and defense of the final project with a geospatial, technical and analytical justification of the solution
Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.
This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.
Academic leadership and faculty
The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.
Dr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Eng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Capt. Javier Abaroa (MCA)Senior Lecturer in Ship Handling, Electronic Navigation (ECDIS/Radar/ARPA) and GMDSS; STCW Compliance and Bridge Resource Management Coordinator
Dr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Eng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Eng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Eng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration CoordinatorObjectives of the Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
Questions about the Professional Diploma in Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing
It is the technique of obtaining reliable measurements and information about physical objects and the environment by recording, measuring and interpreting photographic images.
Aerial and satellite images, LiDAR point clouds, multispectral and hyperspectral data, thermal data and radar data.
The program works with industry-standard photogrammetry, remote sensing and GIS tools, such as Agisoft Metashape, Pix4D and ENVI, together with GIS environments for integration and analysis.
No. You study the regulation of drone flights for mapping, but the remote pilot license is issued by the competent aviation authority under its own requirements.
Yes. The techniques apply to coastline mapping, erosion monitoring, port infrastructure and environmental change detection, as well as to land-based projects.
You define a real case, select sensors and platform, plan the capture, process the data, analyze the results, validate their accuracy and present a technical report.
Fully online, through a virtual campus available 24/7, with live sessions that are recorded and tutorials with the teaching staff.
The professional diploma comprises 800 hours of study across 8 modules of about 100 hours each and ends with a final project. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.
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Admission process
No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.
- Profile: aimed at geomatics, surveying and civil engineering professionals who want to master drone and laser-scanner survey and 3D modeling, territorial and environmental management specialists, researchers working in archaeology, precision agriculture or natural hazard monitoring, recent graduates in related fields and geospatial consultancies expanding their services. A degree in engineering (geomatics, civil, environmental, mining), geography, environmental sciences or a related field, or demonstrable experience in geomatics or remote sensing, is recommended; basic knowledge of GIS and image processing software is an advantage.
- Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
- Technical resources: a computer with a stable internet connection, an up-to-date browser, the ability to install the photogrammetry and GIS software indicated during the program and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
- Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
- 01ApplicationYour details, background and documents.
- 02Instant reviewWe check that everything is complete and in order.
- 03EnrollmentChoose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.
Ask us before you enroll
Leave your details and admissions will write to you to answer any questions. If you are already sure, you can apply and pay in the same session.