Professional diploma800 h · Online · 8 modules

Professional Diploma in Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations

This professional diploma prepares you to plan and manage operations with aerial drones and uncrewed surface vehicles in the marine environment. You will study the platforms and their sensors, launch and recovery from ships, coastal mapping and photogrammetry, environmental monitoring, search and rescue support and infrastructure inspection, together with the aviation and maritime regulations and the risk management these operations demand.

Duration800 h
ModeOnline
Start1 December
Modules8
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About the program

What is the Professional Diploma in Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations?

This professional diploma prepares you to plan and manage operations with aerial drones and uncrewed surface vehicles in the marine environment. You will compare fixed-wing, multirotor and hybrid drones with surface vehicles, select payloads such as visible, thermal and multispectral cameras, LiDAR, echosounders and water-quality sensors, and plan missions with weather, sea state, airspace and maritime traffic in mind. You will then learn deck launch and recovery procedures, process data into orthophotos, digital models and shallow-water bathymetry, and apply the relevant regulations, privacy rules and wildlife protection.

What sets this diploma apart: air and sea in one program, with aerial drones and surface vehicles studied together; real operations, from planning and meteorology to launch and recovery from a ship; sensors and data, including cameras, thermal imaging, LiDAR, multispectral sensors and echosounders; an applied regulatory framework covering aviation and maritime rules; and a practical case in which you prepare an operations plan for a marine drone mission.

Program typeProfessional diploma
ModeOnline
Duration800 hours
Modules8
Start1 December

Program highlights

  • Air and sea: aerial drones and surface vehicles in one program.
  • Real operations: planning, meteorology, launch and recovery from a ship.
  • Sensors and data: cameras, thermal imaging, LiDAR, multispectral sensors and echosounders.
  • Regulatory framework: aviation and maritime regulations applied.
  • Marine applications: environmental monitoring, search and rescue support and infrastructure inspection.
  • Practical case: an operations plan for a marine drone mission.
Syllabus

Syllabus of the Professional Diploma in Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations

8 modules. Select a module to see its content.

Module 1

Uncrewed platforms for the sea

  • 1.1. Fixed-wing, multirotor and hybrid drones
  • 1.2. Waterproof drones
  • 1.3. Uncrewed surface vehicles
  • 1.4. Endurance and power
  • 1.5. Ground control systems
  • 1.6. Communications and data links
  • 1.7. Selecting the platform
  • 1.8. Maturity and limitations
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 2

Sensors and payload

  • 2.1. High-resolution visible cameras
  • 2.2. Thermal cameras
  • 2.3. Multispectral sensors
  • 2.4. LiDAR
  • 2.5. Echosounders and sonar on surface vehicles
  • 2.6. Water-quality sensors
  • 2.7. Water and air sampling
  • 2.8. Integration and calibration
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 3

Planning and meteorology

  • 3.1. Meteorology for drone operations
  • 3.2. Sea state and wind
  • 3.3. Route planning
  • 3.4. Airspace management
  • 3.5. Coordination with maritime traffic
  • 3.6. Operational risk analysis
  • 3.7. Checklists
  • 3.8. Contingency plans
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 4

Operations from ships and the shore

  • 4.1. Take-off and landing on deck
  • 4.2. Recovering surface vehicles
  • 4.3. Beyond visual line of sight operations
  • 4.4. Interference and loss of link
  • 4.5. Coordination with the crew
  • 4.6. Night operations
  • 4.7. Maintenance in a saline environment
  • 4.8. Flight and operations logs
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 5

Mapping and data processing

  • 5.1. Photogrammetry
  • 5.2. Orthophotos and digital models
  • 5.3. Shallow-water bathymetry
  • 5.4. Shoreline monitoring
  • 5.5. Habitat classification
  • 5.6. Thermal data processing
  • 5.7. Integration into GIS
  • 5.8. Quality control
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 6

Marine applications

  • 6.1. Environmental monitoring
  • 6.2. Marine wildlife monitoring
  • 6.3. Oil spill detection
  • 6.4. Search and rescue support
  • 6.5. Inspection of port infrastructure
  • 6.6. Inspection of wind farms
  • 6.7. Fisheries monitoring
  • 6.8. Support for scientific research
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 7

Regulations, safety and ethics

  • 7.1. Drone regulations in Europe and other regions
  • 7.2. Operational categories and scenarios
  • 7.3. Regulation of surface vehicles
  • 7.4. Authorizations in ports and protected areas
  • 7.5. Data protection and privacy
  • 7.6. Insurance and liability
  • 7.7. Disturbance to wildlife
  • 7.8. Ethics of surveillance
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Module 8

Practical case: operations plan for a marine drone mission

  • 8.1. Defining the mission
  • 8.2. Selecting platforms
  • 8.3. Selecting sensors
  • 8.4. Risk analysis
  • 8.5. Flight and navigation plan
  • 8.6. Operating procedures
  • 8.7. Data processing plan
  • 8.8. Presenting the plan
At this stage
100 hestimated workload
8 wkweeks at your pace
Plan your pace

Duration and format of the Professional Diploma in Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations

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 Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations

01Know the uncrewed platforms.
02Select the right sensors.
03Plan drone operations.
04Operate from ships.
05Process the data collected.
06Apply the regulations.
Careers

Career opportunities after the Professional Diploma in Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations

01Marine drone operatorcarrying out aerial and surface missions.
02Coastal mapping technicianphotogrammetry and coastline models.
03Environmental monitoring techniciantracking wildlife, oil spills and habitats.
04Uncrewed operations managerplanning and safety in service companies.
05Port inspection technicianinspecting infrastructure with drones.
06Geospatial data analystprocessing and integration into GIS.
Frequently asked questions

Questions about the Professional Diploma in Aerial and Surface Drones for Marine Operations

No. Pilot licenses and certificates are issued by the aviation authorities through their own process; this program teaches the subject but does not replace them.

It is not essential, although it is recommended to make the most of the operational content.

Yes. Their applications, sensors and operating characteristics are studied.

Yes. You process open-access imagery and coastal survey datasets.

A complete operations plan for a marine mission with aerial or surface drones.

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 practical case. You can progress at your own pace within the schedule set when you enroll.

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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 drone pilots who wish to specialize in marine operations, environmental and marine science technicians who need aerial and surface data, port and maritime safety professionals who evaluate uncrewed systems, engineers and surveyors who carry out coastal surveys, and marine services professionals who want to expand their capabilities. A degree in engineering, marine science, geography, surveying, environmental science, nautical studies or a related field, or professional experience as a drone pilot or in the maritime sector, is recommended.
  • 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 and a camera for live sessions and project presentations.
  • Admission: online application, review of your profile and a short interview with the academic team.
  1. 01
    Application
    Your details, background and documents.
  2. 02
    Instant review
    We check that everything is complete and in order.
  3. 03
    Enrollment
    Choose full payment or instalments and reserve your place.
Start my applicationFrom $444 deposit

Admission is provisional until the committee validates the documents provided. If you do not meet the requirements, the full amount is refunded.

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