Intelligent technology

An Industry Insight by BOMAG

New technology for high-tech road building wins cost and energy savings. With Dr Iris von Kirschbaum, Head of Communications, BOMAG, and Hans-Josef Kloubert, Product Manager for the described technologies.

“For years, measuring technology has been synonymous with efficiency and quality control in compaction”
-Dr. Iris von Kirschbaum, BOMAG

Specifications for high-tech road building are becoming increasingly sophisticated – especially in the field of automatic compaction, compaction control, measurement and total documentation. Faced with the challenges of lower government spending, higher energy costs and tougher environmental protection, contractors need to be sure about the efficiency of their plant and the quality of their output. The avoidance of premature road failure due to insufficient compaction and the implementation of lower-cost compaction process are twin goals where intelligent technology is becoming indispensable.

For years, measuring technology has been synonymous with efficiency and quality control in compaction and has proven itself on innumerable construction sites and large-scale projects. BOMAG’s measuring and documentation system not only optimises the compaction process and documents results, number of passes, amplitude, frequency and working speed, but even detects and stores material stiffness values. Documentation is handled via the well-proven BOMAG BCM 05 Compaction Management System. The E VIB value is the only measured value based on MN/m 2 that offers reliable compaction control as a physical value for all soil-based and most asphalt-based applications. This produces a significant advantage for the contractor as he can monitor the compaction of all layers from sub-base to asphalt, using the same measurement value – comprehensive and consistent documentation for the entire project.

State-of-the-art BOMAG rollers can be equipped with an automatic compaction control system – ASPHALT MANAGER, single drum rollers can be equipped with VARIOCONTROL. These systems allow drivers to see key compaction data on a display screen – thus dispensing with guesswork. Unnecessary passes are avoided, saving time, money and protecting the environment. With each pass, the driver sees a surface picture of the site and the level of compaction achieved. The E VIB value in MN/m² is continuously calculated and indicates the achieved level of stiffness. Both ASPHALT MANAGER and VARIOCONTROL regulate the compaction force to the load bearing capacity of the sub-base. Drivers use automatic mode for approximately 90 percent of all applications, but a manual setting for jobs in a sensitive environment, e.g. close to buildings or on bridges, is always available. So BOMAG compaction control and measurement technology also offers the contractor the highest detail in the way in which it documents the quality of work for each compaction site.

Since 2007 BOMAG has made the BCM 05 positioning software module available for comprehensive GPS supported documentation on all tandem rollers with ASPHALT MANAGER, on single drum rollers with VARIOCONTROL and on all fourth generation single drum rollers. As a DGPS solution, BOMAG uses the compact and fast Starfire iTC system, which is simple to install and works with a satellite supported reference service with accuracy down to at least 20cm. However, BOMAG software interfaces with all conventional DGPS systems with and without reference stations. Positioning precision depends on the GPS system chosen by the contractor. The raw data supplied by the system can then be transformed into on-site co-ordinates using the BCM 05 positioning software and are documented along with the BCM 05 results.

All decisive variables for compaction are recorded and can be displayed individually or combined on the BCM 05 display as a multi-coloured map to support the roller driver. The system is fully automated: manual, track-bound entry of positioning data is no longer necessary. However, if the GPS reference satellites are not available, compaction control and documentation of track-bound work can continue and position data can be entered manually.

Thus the contractor is always able to control the compaction, to avoid wasteful roller passes and to provide consistent documentation of the quality of his work output, avoiding subsequent problems. Cost efficient, energy efficient and reliable: the key features of intelligent technology on modern road building projects.

BOMAG is a global market leader in compaction technology. The company, situated in Boppard, Germany, belongs to the French FAYAT Group and produces compaction machines, stabilisers/recyclers, milling machines and pavers. In 2007, around 2000 employees achieved a turnover of €634 million.