Soil compaction monitoring via photogrammetric settlement measurement – Feasibility study

Abstract

This paper presents a new method of global compaction monitoring based on surface settlement measurements using the Structure from Motion (SfM) approach. The introduced approach was developed to enhance research on soil compaction. A layer of medium sand was compacted with a plate compactor during the experiment on an outdoor test site. The settlement of the soil surface was measured using close-range photogrammetry and optical level. Furthermore, relationships between settlement and changes in layer density and stiffness were studied. The analysis showed that the Structure from Motion approach allows for monitoring soil surface settlement with excellent resolution and accuracy. Moreover, the change of settlement and dynamic modulus during compaction showed a similar trend. This indicates that the proposed approach is a valuable tool for researchers studying the compaction process. Nevertheless, it implementing such technology in industrial projects still requires further development, especially in improving standardization and automation.