Visual tracking of plate compactor trajectories and soil compaction through metamaterial-inspired approach

The compaction process is often carried out in relation to transportation infrastructure. The process is complex since the soil is a heterogeneous environment. Adequate compaction is necessary to ensure the homogeneity and durability of the pavement. This paper presents a novel visual method for assessing soil compaction. A slow-motion camera (optical sensor) and tracking markers placed on the compaction plate, were used to determine the trajectory of the compactor’s movement. Based on this and the proposed energy criterion, it is possible to observe changes in soil compaction up to the desired level. Quality control of soil compaction was experimentally compared to the standard method. The experiments show that the visual method gives similar results to the standard one. The proposed innovative visual method allows for developing and optimizing the machine’s workload efficiency and enables online compaction level monitoring.