Confirm whether a non-nuclear (electromagnetic) density gauge like the PQI 380 or Troxler PaveTracker is an accepted density-testing method under a specific state DOT's asphalt compaction spec.
Sampled — shipped under file-level sampling, not individually fact-checkedcommunity attestations: 0✓ / 0✗
Steps
Check the DOT's materials/QA manual for its current list of approved non-nuclear density gauges (e.g., NCDOT's density gauge operator's manual names specific approved models).
Confirm the specific gauge model complies with the referenced standard (ASTM D7113 / AASHTO T343).
Run the DOT-required correlation procedure against cores or a nuclear gauge control strip before relying on gauge-only readings.
Determine whether the DOT allows the gauge as a stand-alone acceptance method or only as a QC screening tool alongside cores/nuclear gauge acceptance testing.
Follow the DOT's specified number of readings per test site (e.g., five-reading averaging) and recording procedure.
Known gotchas
Independent state DOT research (e.g., a Virginia DOT study) found non-nuclear gauge readings poorly correlated with core density in some mixes — many agencies restrict them to QC-only use, not final acceptance.
Approved-gauge model lists are state-specific and get updated; a gauge approved in one state isn't automatically approved in another.
Skipping the required correlation/calibration step against cores invalidates the readings even if the gauge model itself is on the approved list.
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