The One with the machine's calibration

HWD stands for Heavy Weight Deflectometer. The machine is a testing device used by us, the pavement engineers to evaluate and determine the physical properties of a pavement. The pavement can be roads, airport runways and railway tracks. For my job scope, its for the airport runways. I can say that my work 75% revolves around this machine where I have to do the processing and the analysis of the data obtained. Quite fun job I would say, but tiring and would easily strain the eyes.

Like any other equipments around, the machine needs to be calibrated to ensure the quality of the data obtained during the data collection process. The calibration of the HWD machine take place only once a year in Malaysia and this time around, we have three machines to calibrate. The machines are from Selia Selenggara ( the first company i work with), Scott Wilson Pavement Engineering ( my ex client during my Selia days.) and from CSL. Like previous years, colleagues from Denmark will come over.

There are guidelines and checklist for the calibration, such as trailer and brake system, powering system, trailer electronic system, hydraulic system and transducers/SP and computer/software set up. The calibration was fun cause i could godek-godek the equiment into pieces and witness & learn myself how they dismantle those machine parts. I really learn a lot. Can't wait for next years service. :) Below are the photos.

Reference Calibration. The thingy attached to the cables are the geophones. Each geophone need to be calibrated so the data obtain during the data collection are accurate.

The readings from the each of the geophones during the reference calibration.

The parts from the 'catch' after being dismantled. Grease and lubricant need to be reapplied to it. Yeah, its time to get the hands dirttyy...baru nmpk buat kejer..hahah

Re-attaching the Infrared thermometer to its original location.

Yours trully doing the relative calibration. The data/result being observed by Pers from the computer.


It took 1.5day to calibrate one machine. Sonok!Sonok!

The machine during data collection at Miri Airport last December.