Diploma in Field Testing for Terramechanics
Online postgraduate diploma of 800 hours in field testing for terramechanics, with 8 modules covering soil mechanics for vehicles, wheel-soil and track-soil interaction, field instrumentation, test campaign design, vehicle mobility testing, modelling and data analysis, with an assigned technical tutor.
Diploma in Field Testing for Terramechanics — studying from Malta
Malta's rich heritage, including historic buildings, vintage vehicles and maritime craft, creates a niche for restoration and conservation work. Owners of classic cars, motorcycles and boats seek specialist workshops with knowledge of period engineering and materials. Restoration of historic architecture also requires engineers and technicians familiar with traditional construction methods and conservation rules. Opportunities tend to be found with specialist workshops, heritage organisations and private restorers.
Fees for Malta: €1,090 (Euro), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in Malta
Typical roles
Questions from Malta
Is there a recognised professional body in Malta for restoration and classic vehicle engineering?
Malta does not have a single state-regulated profession for classic vehicle restoration. Vehicle registration and roadworthiness are handled by Transport Malta. SEIUM Institute's qualifications are private, not official state degrees, and are not accredited by any national body. Recognition is determined by employers, clients or the relevant body, so check these before enrolling.
What work could restoration engineers find in Malta?
Malta has a niche market for classic vehicle restoration, mainly through independent workshops, specialist garages and private collectors. Work is often built on reputation and practical craftsmanship. Whether a private online qualification adds value is for individual clients and employers to judge, so it is best to consider it alongside your hands-on experience.
Can I study this part-time with a workshop job, and is funding possible?
Yes. The programmes are fully online, taught in English and suitable for study from home, without needing a student visa. Hours range from 300 to 1,900 depending on the programme. Fees are payable in instalments, employer sponsorship is possible, and each student has an assigned technical tutor.
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
Characterise soils from a mobility perspective.
Model wheel-soil and track-soil interaction.
Use field instrumentation for terramechanics.
Design repeatable and safe test campaigns.
Carry out vehicle mobility tests.
Simulate mobility with numerical models.
Apply the results to improve vehicle design.
Who it's for
- Terramechanics engineers.
- Mobility test engineers.
- Agricultural machinery engineers moving into soil-vehicle testing.
- Off-road vehicle engineers.
- Field technicians.
- Mobility simulation analysts.
- Engineering or science graduates seeking to enter the agricultural and forestry machinery sector.
What you'll work with
- ASABE S313.3 (soil cone penetrometer)
- ASABE EP542 (procedures for using and reporting cone penetrometer data)
- ISO 17892-1 (laboratory testing of soil: water content)
- ISO 22476-2 (field testing: dynamic probing)
- ASTM D1556 (in-place density by the sand-cone method)
- ASTM D2216 (laboratory determination of soil water content)
- ISTVS standards (terrain-vehicle systems)
- NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM)
- Project Chrono
- MATLAB
- QGIS
8 modules
1.1Soil types and classification1.2Cohesion and angle of friction1.3Density and moisture1.4Bearing capacity1.5Bekker pressure-sinkage theory1.6Janosi-Hanamoto shear stress1.7Sandy, clay and organic soils1.8Snow and ice as terrain1.9Soils on other planets1.10Practical exercise: classification of soil samples
2.1Sinkage and motion resistance2.2Slip and traction2.3Net traction effort2.4Rigid versus pneumatic wheel2.5Inflation pressure and footprint2.6Track-soil interaction2.7Multi-pass effect2.8Soil compaction2.9Semi-empirical models2.10Laboratory: testing a wheel in a soil bin
3.1Cone penetrometer3.2Bevameter3.3In-situ shear apparatus3.4Density by sand cone3.5Soil moisture3.6Terrain profilometers3.7Sinkage measurement3.8Traction dynamometers3.9GNSS and position logging3.10Workshop: penetrometry campaign
4.1Objectives and variables4.2Site selection4.3Preparation of test tracks4.4Repeatability in the field4.5Weather conditions4.6Field safety4.7Environmental permits4.8Equipment logistics4.9Sampling plan4.10Practical exercise: test plan on sandy terrain
5.1Drawbar pull test5.2Motion resistance test5.3Maximum gradeability5.4Obstacle crossing5.5Fording5.6Turning test on soft soil5.7Vehicle cone index5.8Fuel consumption on soft terrain5.9Towed-load tests5.10Case study: comparison of two inflation pressures
6.1Reference mobility models6.2Discrete elements for soils6.3Finite element models6.4Multibody simulation with terrain6.5Mobility maps with GIS6.6Prediction of trafficable routes6.7Validation with field data6.8Prediction uncertainty6.9Open-source tools6.10Laboratory: simulation of a wheel in sand
7.1Processing of field data7.2Test statistics7.3Parameter correlation7.4Technical reports7.5Application to agricultural machinery7.6Application to rally-raid vehicles7.7Application to military and emergency vehicles7.8Planetary exploration7.9Reducing compaction7.10Practical exercise: mobility report for a vehicle
8.1Definition of the vehicle and terrain8.2Soil characterisation8.3Test plan8.4Mobility tests8.5Simulation8.6Correlation of results8.7Design recommendations8.8Technical report8.9Report and presentation8.10Final project: final review with the tutor
How you'll learn
The programme is delivered 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 can be combined with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM), Project Chrono, MATLAB and QGIS, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Testing is studied through real procedures: penetrometry campaigns on soft soil, drawbar pull tests in sand and sinkage measurement at different inflation pressures. Assessment is continuous by module plus the final integrating project.
Standards covered: ASABE S313.3, ASABE EP542, ISO 17892-1, ISO 22476-2, ASTM D1556, ASTM D2216, ISTVS standards.
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
- Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector. No university degree 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 800 hours over 6–8 months. You set your own pace within each intake, and your tutor helps you plan the workload around your job.
You work with NATO Reference Mobility Model (NRMM), Project Chrono, MATLAB and QGIS, using free, academic or evaluation versions. Your tutor indicates the free alternative wherever one exists.
A SEIUM Institute diploma, 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.
Prior technical training or professional experience in the sector (no university degree required), 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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