Pavement Density Profiler (PDP)
Overview
Uniform compaction of asphalt pavement is a key factor in increasing the life expectancy of a paved road.
“STUDIES INDICATE A 1 PERCENT INCREASE IN DENSITY CAN EXTEND THE ASPHALT PAVEMENT SERVICE LIFE BY AT LEAST 10 PERCENT.” –
Federal Highways Association (FHWA) and Asphalt Institute Workshop.

After asphalt pavement is laid down, the density is traditionally measured using point sampling methods such as coring, a nuclear density gauge, or a Pavement Quality Indicator (PQI).
Drilling core samples in newly paved roads is destructive, expensive and the results are not available in the field, taking days to get from a lab. Nuclear density gauges have safety regulations and training requirements that must be adhered to during operation. Further, all these traditional methods only measure at single points, leaving large gaps in the measurements and increasing the risk of areas in the pavement that fall outside the compaction quality requirements which, research has shown, leads to premature road failure.
The PDP Solution
The Pavement Density Profiler (PDP) instrument addresses the need to acquire density measurements of a large area quickly, in a non-invasive manner with timely results.
The PDP provides continuous profile capability that allows the variability of the asphalt pavement to be assessed over a complete area. Areas of high and low density can then be targeted for further investigation or corrective action.
The PDP works by transmitting a radio wave signal towards the ground surface and detects the reflected wave, measuring the electrical characteristic of the asphalt. The electrical information is then transformed to density for real-time, in-field results.
Powerful & Innovative PDP Features
- Real-time output
- Setup & Survey in minutes
- No field calibration required
- Collect point measurements or profiles
- Turn multiple profiles into a map of pavement variability
Why Choose PDP?
PDP | Core | Nuclear Density Gauge | Dielectric Gauge/PQI | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Point Measurement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Profile Measurement | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Area Measurement | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ |
Measurement Time | <0.1 s profiling | Days | 30 to 60 seconds in 2 orientations | Seconds |
Non-Contact Sensor | ✓ | ✗ | No | No |
Non-Hazardous | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Training Requirements | Minimal | ✓ | Extensive: Nuclear Materials Handling Course | Minimal |
License-free | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Unlimited Transportation | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
Additional Considerations | None | Random cores are not an accurate representation of the pavement | Gauge needs strict regular maintenance, proper transport and storage | Needs clean, dry and smooth contact surface |








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