Soil compaction is a critical process in road construction, significantly affecting the durability and quality of infrastructure. Inadequate or uneven compaction often leads to premature road damage, such as cracking and potholes. Conventional methods for measuring soil density, such as the sand cone or nuclear density tests, are destructive, time-consuming, and unable to provide real-time data. To overcome these limitations, this research focuses on the design and development of a prototype EVIB (Electronic Vibration) Meter Detector based on Arduino Mega 2560 for real-time monitoring of soil compaction using vibration sensors mounted on heavy road roller equipment.

The system integrates a MPU6050 vibration sensor to measure acceleration, velocity, and orientation during compaction, along with a 3.2-inch TFT LCD touchscreen for real-time data visualization and a microSD card module for data logging. The collected vibration data is processed to estimate the California Bearing Ratio (CBR) percentage, which correlates with soil density and compaction quality, in accordance with SNI 1738-2011 standards. The device is designed for outdoor use, ensuring durability against environmental factors such as dust, vibration, and direct sunlight.

The prototype was tested over a 20-day period and validated against a commercial vibration meter (SNDWAY SW-65A) as a reference instrument. The results showed consistent data correlation, with the final CBR percentage reaching 34.23% on day 20. Statistical analysis, including mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation, confirmed the validity and reliability of the system. A radar plot comparison further demonstrated high accuracy and precision between the prototype and the reference device.

The findings indicate that the developed EVIB meter prototype is capable of providing real-time, non-destructive, and reliable soil compaction monitoring, making it a practical and cost-effective solution for field applications in road construction and infrastructure projects. This system also has potential for integration with IoT platforms for remote monitoring via smartphones or computers, enhancing project management efficiency.

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