Development and field validation of a GNSS-integrated smart compaction management system

This study develops and evaluates a GNSS-based Smart Earthwork Compaction Management System for continuous compaction evaluation (CCE) using a MEMS piezoelectric accelerometer integrated with a high-speed microcontroller. The sensor module, rigidly mounted to a vibratory roller drum, records vibration signals, processes them via Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), and computes indices such as the Compaction Measurement Value (CMV), synchronized with high-precision GNSS positioning for georeferenced quality mapping. Durability testing under MIL-STD-810 conditions, including vibration, shock, and temperature storage between −40°C and +63°C confirmed frequency stability at ∼25 Hz and amplitude consistency within ±2%. Field trials conducted on sand and firmer ground demonstrated distinct CMV ranges of 19.2–22.2 and 22.1–38.2, respectively, corresponding to stiffness moduli of 38–92 MPa obtained from a Lightweight Falling Deflectometer (LFWD). Comparative tests with a commercial compactometer yielded a strong correlation (R² = 0.91) after normalization, validating the accuracy of the developed prototype. The integrated GNSS-linked CMV mapping successfully identified under-compacted zones with deviations exceeding 15% from the mean CMV. Overall, the system achieved robust signal fidelity, reliable temperature endurance, and spatial stiffness detection accuracy above 90%, offering a cost-effective and field-ready solution for intelligent compaction quality control.