<p><p><h2>Commentary</h2>Quantifying the cost of intelligent compaction is difficult if not impossible. Additional equipment costs are approximately $30,000 (Sebesta, et al. 2006). As a one-time trial, investment in an additional fixed cost of this amount is not feasible. On the other hand, when spread over a number of projects, a $30,000 capital investment is quickly offset by cost savings associated with specification compliance with an optimum number of roller passes. Therefore in the long run, intelligent compaction results in a cost savings to the agency because compaction operations are more efficient.</p><p>Implementation of intelligent compaction on highway construction projects will likely be driven by new specifications. A good analogy of this was the implementation of pavement smoothness specifications in the early 1990s; state highway agencies implemented the California Profilograph as the acceptance measurement device. When this happened, contractors quickly purchased profilograph equipment for quality control purposes. Over a short time, the investment made in a profilograph resulted in improved quality control and thus, cost savings that were passed on to the agency due to competitive market forces. A similar scenario is likely as intelligent compaction is implemented through specifications.<br><h2>Cost Information Summary</h2>Very little historical cost information exists for intelligent compaction. One case study from Germany in 2003 (Briaud and Seo) estimated fuel and labor cost savings of more than 30% as a result of fewer passes of the compaction equipment.<br><h2>Conceptual Cost Estimating Tool</h2>No cost estimating tool is provided for this technology. Specific project inquiries regarding the cost of intelligent compaction should be made to experienced grading contractors.</p></p>