A testing system for determining ground characteristics, the testing system comprising; a driving means ; and a test element comprising: a longitudinal body configured to receive a driving force from the driving means and a penetration end ; and a set of two or more friction sensors interspaced along the length of the longitudinal body , each of the two or more friction sensors being configured to provide information about a ground characteristic, wherein the set of two or more friction sensors comprises a first friction sensor spaced a first distance from the penetration end and a second friction sensor spaced a second, larger, distance from the penetration end ; wherein, in use, the driving means is configured to: provide a driving force to the test element to drive the penetration end of the test element into the ground to a first ground depth, wherein the first friction sensor of the two or more friction sensors provides information about the ground characteristic at a specific elevation level as the test element is driven into the ground to the first ground depth; and provide a driving force to the test element to further drive the penetration end of the test element into the ground to a second ground depth, wherein the second friction sensor of the two or more friction sensors provides information about the ground characteristic at the specific elevation level as the test element is further driven into the ground to the second ground depth; characterised in that the testing system further comprises a controller, the controller being configured to receive and compare the information provided by the first and second friction sensors about the ground characteristic at the specific elevation level and to determine the change in driving resistance to the test element as the test element is driven into the ground. a driving means ; and a test element comprising: a longitudinal body configured to receive a driving force from the driving means and a penetration end ; and a set of two or more friction sensors interspaced along the length of the longitudinal body , each of the two or more friction sensors being configured to provide information about a ground characteristic, wherein the set of two or more friction sensors comprises a first friction sensor spaced a first distance from the penetration end and a second friction sensor spaced a second, larger, distance from the penetration end ; a longitudinal body configured to receive a driving force from the driving means and a penetration end ; and a set of two or more friction sensors interspaced along the length of the longitudinal body , each of the two or more friction sensors being configured to provide information about a ground characteristic, wherein the set of two or more friction sensors comprises a first friction sensor spaced a first distance from the penetration end and a second friction sensor spaced a second, larger, distance from the penetration end ; provide a driving force to the test element to drive the penetration end of the test element into the ground to a first ground depth, wherein the first friction sensor of the two or more friction sensors provides information about the ground characteristic at a specific elevation level as the test element is driven into the ground to the first ground depth; and provide a driving force to the test element to further drive the penetration end of the test element into the ground to a second ground depth, wherein the second friction sensor of the two or more friction sensors provides information about the ground characteristic at the specific elevation level as the test element is further driven into the ground to the second ground depth; <EOS>