A state DOT doubled its annual pavement data collection while improving safety and data quality by switching to Dynatest Fast TMD—reducing test time from over one minute to just 15 seconds.
Key results at a glance
- More than 2x increase in annual pavement data collection
- Test time reduced from 1+ minute to ~15 seconds
- ~10% reduction in RMSE
- Reduced crew exposure to traffic
- Improved pavement data consistency
Customer profile
Type: State Department of Transportation (State DOT)
Region: Northern USA
Solution: Dynatest Fast TMD (Truck Mounted Deflectometer)
Overview
Managing pavement conditions across a large and geotechnically diverse road network requires both speed and accuracy.
This state transportation agency uses the Dynatest Fast TMD to collect structural pavement data across approximately 22,000 lane miles. Conditions vary significantly, ranging from silty sands and clays to hard rock formations.
To support pavement design and maintenance planning, deflection data is combined with GPR measurements to calculate layer moduli and evaluate pavement structure. These insights enable engineers to make data-driven decisions on treatments and long-term road investments.
The challenge
Limited testing window
Data collection is restricted to a short season between late spring and early fall, reducing the time available for network coverage.
Traffic and logistics constraints
High traffic volumes during peak tourism periods require testing outside peak hours. Long travel distances between sites further limit productivity.
Growing data volumes
Large-scale network testing generates significant data, increasing pressure on processing, storage, and analysis workflows.
The solution
The State DOT implemented the Dynatest Fast TMD, enabling high-speed continuous deflection testing with significantly reduced test time.
Key improvements included:
- Reducing test time from over 1 minute to ~15 seconds per test
- Simultaneous data collection with GPR
- Streamlined field operations and improved efficiency
This allows more data to be collected safely within the limited testing season, while freeing up time for analysis during off-season months.
How the Fast TMD is used
Applications
- Network-level pavement management
- Project-level design and evaluation
- Research and special studies
Annual Workflow
- May–September: Data collection
- Fall–Winter: Data processing and analysis
Data output
- MDB and DDX formats
- Processed for modulus calculation
- Exported to CSV for reporting and visualization
Results
+ Increased productivity
Annual data collection output has more than doubled, enabling broader network coverage.
+ Improved safety
Faster testing reduces time spent in traffic, lowering risk for field crews.
+ Higher data consistency
Measurements are more stable and reliable compared to traditional FWD systems.
+ Better quality control
Observed improvements include reduced variability and ~10% lower RMSE.
+ Greater confidence in decisions
More consistent data strengthens pavement design and maintenance planning.
Customer perspective
“Dynatest has been an outstanding partner. Their team is highly responsive, knowledgeable, and committed to solving technical challenges. When we wanted to integrate additional technologies into the Fast TMD, Dynatest worked closely with us, listened to our needs, and delivered a reliable solution that performs exactly as intended. We could not be happier with the outcome.”
Key takeaway
By combining high-speed testing with integrated data collection, the Dynatest Fast TMD enables:
- Faster network coverage
- More accurate and consistent data
- Safer field operations
- Better infrastructure decisions
Want the full story?
Learn how one State DOT doubled pavement data collection, reduced testing time to 15 seconds, and improved data consistency.