Course on Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils
Online 300 h course on wheel slip and traction loss in soft soils. 6 modules with ASABE S296 (traction terminology), ASABE D497 (agricultural machinery management data) and MATLAB. Assigned tutor and open enrolment.
Course on Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils — studying from New Zealand
Off-road and special vehicle engineering is a major strength in New Zealand, reflecting the importance of agriculture, forestry, mining and construction. Manufacturers and fabricators in the Waikato and Canterbury produce tractors, harvesters, dairy equipment and specialised machinery, many of which are exported worldwide. Engineers in this field work on design, testing and safety compliance for equipment used on farms, in plantations and on remote worksites.
Fees for New Zealand: NZ$1,080 (New Zealand dollar), with instalments and employer sponsorship available.
Relevant bodies in New Zealand
Typical roles
Questions from New Zealand
Which New Zealand bodies relate to off-road and specialist vehicle engineering?
Engineering New Zealand is the main professional body, and vehicle compliance is handled by the NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Heavy machinery and certain specialist vehicles can also fall under WorkSafe New Zealand rules. SEIUM's qualifications are private and not accredited by any national body, so employers and regulators decide their value.
Who hires off-road and special vehicle engineers in New Zealand?
Employers include forestry and agricultural equipment firms, mining and civil construction contractors, fabrication shops, and emergency or utility vehicle fleets. Practical design, safety and maintenance skills are central to hiring. A SEIUM qualification may help, but its weight depends on the employer.
How does the study load work for someone with a job here?
The programme is fully online, so you can study around work from anywhere in New Zealand without a student visa. Specialist courses take 300 hours, postgraduate diplomas 800 hours and master's programmes 1,900 hours. You get an assigned technical tutor, and fees can be paid in instalments or sponsored by an employer.
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
Explain the phenomenon of slip and traction loss.
Measure and diagnose slip under field conditions.
Identify the causes of slip in soft soils.
Apply technical corrections such as ballasting, pressure and configuration.
Quantify the economic and agronomic effects of slip.
Train the operator in traction management.
Design a slip reduction plan as a final project.
Who it's for
- Agricultural mechanisation engineer who wants to specialise in Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils.
- Precision agriculture technician who wants to specialise in Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils.
- Technical tractor adviser who wants to specialise in Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils.
- Terramechanics researcher who wants to specialise in Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils.
- Field test technician who wants to specialise in Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils.
- Expert tractor operator who wants to specialise in Wheel Slip and Traction Loss in Soft Soils.
- Graduates in engineering or science looking to enter agriculture.
What you'll work with
- ASABE S296 (traction terminology)
- ASABE D497 (agricultural machinery management data)
- ASABE S313 (cone penetrometer for soils)
- ISO 11783 (ISOBUS)
- OECD Code 2 (tractor performance testing)
- ISO 17892 (geotechnical laboratory testing)
6 modules · 300 h
1.1Definition of slip1.2Theoretical speed and actual speed1.3Traction versus slip curve1.4Optimal slip and excessive slip1.5Loss of useful power1.6Soil damage from slip1.7Signals perceived by the operator1.8Slip in tracks versus wheels1.9Terminology and units1.10Workshop: measuring slip in the field
2.1Wheel revolution method2.2Radar and actual forward speed2.3Tractor sensors and their readings2.4On-screen indicators and their reliability2.5Data logging during operations2.6Common measurement errors2.7Measurement on tracks2.8Test repeatability2.9Comparison between methods2.10Practice: three methods on the same operation
3.1Soil moisture and shear strength3.2Sinkage and rolling resistance3.3Insufficient load on the driven axle3.4Inadequate inflation pressure3.5Embossed or worn tread3.6Poorly adjusted load distribution3.7Load transfer from the implement3.8Slope and direction of work3.9Excessive working speed3.10Practice: analysis of causes in a real case
4.1Pressure adjustment4.2Ballasting and its calculation4.3Dual wheels and wide wheels4.4Four-wheel drive and locking differentials4.5Changing tread or tyre4.6Hitch and drawbar adjustment4.7Reducing speed and depth4.8Choosing the timing of the operation4.9Order of priority for corrections4.10Practice: correction and verification plan
5.1Additional fuel consumption from slip5.2Time lost per hectare5.3Accelerated tyre wear5.4Compaction and soil structure5.5Effect on crop emergence5.6Estimable combined cost5.7Before and after comparison5.8Prudent interpretation of data5.9Documentation of results5.10Practice: economic quantification of a case
6.1Operator training in traction6.2Simple guidelines for the cab6.3Slip targets by operation6.4Monitoring with machine data6.5Integration with maintenance6.6Associated investment decisions6.7Common management errors6.8Real cases with measured results6.9Periodic review of the programme6.10Final project: slip control programme
How you'll learn
100 % online training on the SEIUM campus, with downloadable material, recorded classes and an assigned technical tutor. No fixed timetables: students progress at their own pace within the enrolment period, which makes it possible to combine study with work.
Each module combines theory, guided reading of the original standard and applied exercises. The working software is MATLAB, advanced Excel, Project Chrono, John Deere Operations Center, in free, academic or evaluation versions. Tests are studied using real slip measurement procedures with radar and wheel sensors, traction tests in plots, and compaction assessment with a penetrometer. Assessment is continuous for each module plus the final integrating project.
Build it end to end
Your final project follows the real engineering workflow, step by step, reviewed by your tutor.
Explain the phenomenon of slip and traction loss.
Measure and diagnose slip under field conditions.
Identify the causes of slip in soft soils.
Apply technical corrections such as ballasting, pressure and configuration.
Quantify the economic and agronomic effects of slip.
Where this takes you
Requirements
- No prior degree is required.
- Internet connection and a computer capable of running the programme’s software.
- Sufficient English to follow technical standards documentation.
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 spread over 3 to 5 months. That is an average of between 10 and 15 hours per week, compatible with a full-time job.
You work with MATLAB, advanced Excel, Project Chrono and John Deere Operations Center. Free, academic or evaluation versions are used, and the tutor indicates the free alternative where one exists.
A SEIUM own diploma on passing the continuous assessment and the integrating project. It is in-house training, not an official qualification from the Ministry.
Yes. Modules passed in a course or postgraduate diploma in the same area can be transferred to the higher programme. Check the recognition policy when you enrol.
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