Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling

This professional diploma gives you the essential tools to measure, map and model the movement of water. You will master marine cartography techniques and numerical modeling, understand how currents affect navigation, coastal management and environmental studies, and learn to use specialized software to visualize and simulate current patterns, producing reliable information for decisions in ports, energy, fisheries, safety and the protection of the coast.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling?

This professional diploma trains you to turn current measurements into maps and models that support decisions. You will study the physical oceanography behind ocean circulation, tides, density currents, internal waves and the Coriolis effect, how currents are measured with mechanical and acoustic current meters, ADCPs, drifters, profilers, HF coastal radar, gliders and satellites, how vector fields, current charts and tidal atlases are built with reference systems and GIS, the equations, grids, boundary conditions and validation of 2D and 3D numerical models, operational tools such as ROMS, MOHID, Delft3D and Copernicus Marine services, coastal, estuarine and harbor dynamics, and the analysis of current data with Python.

What sets this professional diploma apart: it covers the whole chain from instrument to model to map, so you understand the quality and limits of the data behind every current product; it combines cartographic representation with numerical modeling rather than teaching either in isolation; it works with the open operational models and data services used in practice; it gives specific attention to coastal and port areas, where currents matter most for maneuvering, sediment transport and water renewal; it shows applications in navigation, search and rescue, pollutant dispersion, marine energy and fisheries; and it ends with a final project in which you produce a current map and model for a coastal area.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Physical oceanography: seawater properties, general circulation, tides, density currents, internal waves and Coriolis.
  • Current measurement: current meters, ADCP, drifters and profilers, HF radar, gliders, satellites and data quality.
  • Oceanographic mapping: reference systems, vector fields, GIS, current charts, tidal mapping and open data products.
  • Numerical modeling: fluid dynamics equations, grids, boundary conditions, 2D and 3D, barotropic and baroclinic models.
  • Operational tools and coasts: ROMS, MOHID, Delft3D, Copernicus Marine, estuaries, harbor agitation and sediments.
  • Applications and final project: navigation, SAR, pollutant dispersion, marine energy and a coastal current model.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Fundamentals of physical oceanography

  • 1.1. Properties of seawater
  • 1.2. General ocean circulation
  • 1.3. Surface and deep currents
  • 1.4. Tides and tidal currents
  • 1.5. Ocean–atmosphere interaction
  • 1.6. Density currents
  • 1.7. Internal waves
  • 1.8. The Coriolis force
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Measuring currents

  • 2.1. Mechanical and acoustic current meters (ADCP)
  • 2.2. Drifting buoys and profilers
  • 2.3. Coastal HF radar
  • 2.4. Satellite remote sensing
  • 2.5. Data quality
  • 2.6. Instrument moorings
  • 2.7. Underwater gliders
  • 2.8. Processing ADCP data
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Oceanographic mapping

  • 3.1. Reference systems and projections
  • 3.2. Representing vector fields
  • 3.3. GIS applied to the ocean
  • 3.4. Current charts
  • 3.5. Open data products
  • 3.6. Surface current maps
  • 3.7. Tidal mapping
  • 3.8. Oceanographic atlases
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Fundamentals of numerical modeling

  • 4.1. The equations of fluid dynamics
  • 4.2. Discretisation and grids
  • 4.3. Boundary conditions
  • 4.4. 2D and 3D models
  • 4.5. Model validation
  • 4.6. Barotropic and baroclinic models
  • 4.7. Resolution and scales
  • 4.8. Model sensitivity
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Operational tools and models

  • 5.1. The ROMS, MOHID and Delft3D models
  • 5.2. Copernicus Marine services
  • 5.3. Operational forecasting
  • 5.4. Data assimilation
  • 5.5. Post-processing
  • 5.6. Coupled wave models
  • 5.7. Particle-tracking models
  • 5.8. Port forecasting services
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Currents in coastal and port areas

  • 6.1. Longshore and rip currents
  • 6.2. Estuarine dynamics
  • 6.3. Harbor agitation
  • 6.4. Sediment transport
  • 6.5. Maneuverability studies
  • 6.6. Beach currents and safety
  • 6.7. Modeling harbor basins
  • 6.8. Water renewal in ports
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Applications

  • 7.1. Navigation and route planning
  • 7.2. Search and rescue
  • 7.3. Pollutant dispersion
  • 7.4. Marine energy
  • 7.5. Fisheries and aquaculture
  • 7.6. Currents and underwater archaeology
  • 7.7. Species migration routes
  • 7.8. Currents and tidal energy
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Data analysis and project

  • 8.1. Python programming for oceanography
  • 8.2. Visualizing results
  • 8.3. Writing reports
  • 8.4. Uncertainty and reliability
  • 8.5. Statistics of current data
  • 8.6. Interactive maps
  • 8.7. Presenting results
  • 8.8. Final project: a current map and model for a coastal area
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling

It is 800 hours. Tell us how many you can study each week and we will tell you when you will really finish.

4 h30 h
With 12 h per week
15
months to finish
67 weeks
weeks in total

This is the pace at which most students finish. It fits well with the installment plan.

Faculty

Academic leadership and faculty

The Navalis teaching team: working professionals who teach and supervise the programs.

Dra. Marina AlcoverDr. Marina AlcoverAcademic Director and Head of Quality Assurance
Ing. Diego CifuentesEng. Diego CifuentesSenior Lecturer in Naval Welding and Non-Destructive Testing; Head of QA/QC for Welded Joints
Cap. Javier Abaroa (MCA)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 FerrerDr. Pau FerrerSenior Lecturer in Naval Architecture and Simulation; Director of the Hydrodynamics and CFD Laboratory
Dra. Nuria LlobregatDr. Nuria LlobregatSenior Lecturer in Marine Meteorology, SAR and Operational Safety; Navigation Risk Management Coordinator
Ing. Javier BañulsEng. Javier BañulsSenior Lecturer in Electrical Engineering, Automation and ETO Engineering; Electronic Integration and Engine Alarms Coordinator
Ing. Sofía MarquinaEng. Sofía MarquinaSenior Lecturer in Materials, Composites and Corrosion Protection; Coordinator of the Advanced Paints and Coatings Line
Ing. Tomás RieraEng. Tomás RieraSenior Lecturer in Propulsion, Alternative Energy and Hybrid Systems; Energy Performance and Vibration Coordinator
Objectives

Objectives of the Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling

01Forecast the behavior of currents by analyzing tidal, meteorological and bathymetric data with predictive models and simulation software.
02Build accurate predictive models, applying data-driven techniques, including machine learning where appropriate, and tuning them to improve the prediction of key variables.
03Support the sustainable management of marine resources, using GIS and current models to inform fisheries and aquaculture decisions and reduce environmental impact.
04Visualize and analyze complex geospatial data with GIS tools that reveal patterns, trends and anomalies in current fields and support informed decisions.
05Develop solutions for safer navigation by combining current information with AIS, radar and ECDIS data to anticipate risks and optimize routes.
06Improve the efficiency of maritime operations by planning routes that account for currents, tides and weather to reduce fuel consumption and transit time.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling

01GIS technician or analystbuilding and managing cartographic databases and spatial analysis of current data.
02Current modellerdevelopment and calibration of hydrodynamic models and simulation of spill and dispersion scenarios.
03Environmental consultantimpact assessment of coastal infrastructure and pollutant dispersion studies.
04Oceanographic cartographerproduction of current charts, tidal maps and other representations of oceanographic data.
05Coastal risk analystidentifying and assessing risks associated with currents and designing mitigation measures.
06Marine renewable energy technicianassessing the energy potential of currents and tides and supporting site selection for marine energy projects.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Ocean Current Mapping and Modeling

Mapping provides the geographical framework, reference systems and visual representation, while numerical models use bathymetry, boundary conditions and measurements to simulate how water moves. The diploma teaches both and how to combine them in reliable current products.

Mechanical and acoustic current meters, ADCPs, drifting buoys, profilers, moorings, coastal HF radar, underwater gliders and satellite remote sensing, together with open data products and Copernicus Marine services.

The program covers widely used open and professional tools such as ROMS, MOHID and Delft3D, operational forecasting and data assimilation, coupled wave models and particle-tracking models, plus Python for analysis and visualization.

Both. It starts with general ocean circulation and then dedicates a full module to coastal and port areas: longshore and rip currents, estuaries, harbor agitation, sediment transport, basin modeling and water renewal in ports.

Navigation and route planning, search and rescue, pollutant dispersion, marine and tidal energy, fisheries and aquaculture, species migration and even underwater archaeology.

You produce a current map and model for a coastal area: data selection and processing, model set-up and validation, uncertainty analysis, interactive maps and a technical report with your results.

Fully online, with content available 24/7, active discussion forums, live sessions that are recorded and personalized tutorials with the teaching staff.

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Online admission

Admission process

No waiting for a call back. If your documents are in order, you can enroll in the same session.

Entry requirements
  • Profile: aimed at geographers and cartographers, environmental engineers and oceanographers, maritime and port professionals, GIS consultants and technicians, and graduates in related fields; a degree in geography, geomatics, environmental sciences or a related field, or proven experience in mapping, modeling or water resources management, is recommended, together with familiarity with GIS software such as QGIS or ArcGIS and basic notions of geodesy and reference systems.
  • Language: sufficient command of English to follow the classes and the technical documentation.
  • Technical resources: a computer able to run GIS software and modeling tools, a broadband internet connection and basic computing skills.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
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  2. 02
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  3. 03
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