IC for Pavement Foundation Update

The Transtec Group, A Terracon Company, Advances Intelligent Compaction Research with New FHWA Tech Brief and Ongoing Projects

Austin, TX — The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) has released a new Tech Brief on Intelligent Compaction (IC) for pavement foundations, authored by The Transtec Group, A Terracon Company. Titled Feasibility of Utilizing Intelligent Compaction Equipment to Ensure Uniformity and Quality of Pavement Foundation (FHWA-HIF-24-097), this concise publication summarizes a four-year research initiative focused on enhancing pavement foundation quality through advanced IC technologies.

This study highlights IC’s potential to improve the uniformity and adequacy of pavement foundations—beginning at the subgrade level—by enabling real-time adjustments during construction. The report also introduces a practical, field-friendly procedure for incorporating IC into full-scale infrastructure projects. The Tech Brief is available for download on the FHWA website.

A related presentation, delivered to the National Road Research Alliance (NRRA) Intelligent Construction Technology (ICT) team, can also be downloaded from the ICT website.

In tandem with the FHWA project, the research team has published a complementary report titled Evaluation of Levels 3-4 Intelligent Compaction Measurement Values (ICMV) for Soils Subgrade and Aggregate Subbase Compaction. This two-year NRRA study explores more advanced IC measurement techniques. A recorded webinar discussing its findings is available through the NRRA’s Research Pays Off webinar series.

Building on this research, The Transtec Group has initiated a new two-year collaboration with the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), running from 2025 to 2027. Titled Piloting the Use of Intelligent Compaction for Evaluating Pavement Subgrade Uniformity and Adequacy, this project aims to pilot IC technologies as a quality assurance (QA) tool for subgrade evaluation in state-level construction projects. Applications will include new roadway construction, lane widening, and full-depth repairs—further validating the feasibility and effectiveness of IC for broader adoption.

Dr. George Chang, the principal investigator for these research efforts, will co-author a forthcoming book titled Pioneer of Intelligent Construction: Intelligent Compaction. As the second volume in the ISIC ICT book series, the publication—set for release by Springer in late 2025—will offer a comprehensive look into IC, from fundamental mechanistic concepts to real-world field applications. Additional details are available on the ISIC publications webpage.

First conceptualized in 1978, Intelligent Compaction has remained at the forefront of construction innovation for nearly five decades. While recent developments have largely focused on asphalt applications, current research is bringing IC back to its roots—enhancing soils and subbase compaction to improve pavement foundation performance.

For more information or inquiries, please contact Dr. George Chang at GKChang@TheTranstecGroup.com, or reach out to The Transtec Group’s research team.