Open houses show basics of intelligent compaction
Caterpillar demonstrated its intelligent compaction roller equipment at the 6-mile reconstruction project along TH 64 south of Akeley, Minnesota, on July 20, 2006, at the White Oak Township Hall. The special provisions for the project require the contractor to provide intelligent compaction equipment for the quality control compaction testing of the grade.
Jean Wallace from the FHWA, Dean Potts from Caterpillar, and Doug Differt, Mn/DOT’s deputy commissioner, talk about the use of intelligent compaction in Minnesota. Caterpillar’s intelligent compaction roller is in the background.
Photo courtesy Mn/DOT
In July, Mn/DOT hosted two open houses—one in Akeley, the other at the MnROAD facility near Albertville—to demonstrate the use of intelligent compaction equipment on roadway grades.
With this innovative approach, single-drum rollers determine the stiffness of the roadway grade in real time. GPS equipment on the rollers allows the operator to view a map inside the roller cab showing roller location and the quality of compaction across the entire surface of each lift.
Research studies, resources, and presentations are online at www.dot.state.mn.us/const/tools/consttechnology.html.
For more information, contact Glenn Engstrom, glenn.engstrom@dot.state.mn.us.