Partnership Results in Speedy CPT Soil Test Rig for Solar Field

Charged with completing a CPT soil test sounding about every 25 acres on a 14,000 acre future solar field in Arkansas, Tim Cleary rode along in the side-by-side UTV support vehicle to conduct hands-on training to reinforce best practices for efficiency and help maintain their quality standards.

“We would ride to the next sounding location in 3-4 minutes and then have to wait 20 minutes for the CPT track rig to reach the site,” said Cleary, Terracon national in situ testing manager. “As I was sitting there waiting, I was watching all this agricultural equipment in the fields and wondered ‘why are we trying to beat the farmers at their own game?’”

Cleary reached out to Troy Schmidt, Geoprobe^® Direct Image^® product line manager, to ponder together whether there was a way to do something different.

“We began talking, drawing pictures, and looking at several platforms,” Cleary said. “We decided a tractor would be best based on our desired site access, its weight, and our existing resources to support mobilization. It’s a piece of equipment designed to make it across sloppy, agricultural fields, yet still have the ability to drive on pavement and all with sufficient ground speed to be efficient.”

Their first 20CPT Tractor was delivered to the Terracon office in Savannah, Georgia, last fall. They now also have one in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and a third in production slated for Springfield, Missouri.

“Nothing had to be reinvented. We simply integrated the best resources of two industries. We knew how to push CPT and run tractors, so there was no learning curve,” Cleary said. “We’re strategically placing them across the company to support our operations.”

The 20CPT Tractor solved the initial problem of speed between CPT soil test boring sites, but also improved operator safety.

“Its faster ground speed substantially reduces the amount of time accessing boring locations and traversing across site,” Cleary said. “It’s also safer to maneuver due to enhanced visibility. The glass windows around the cab provide a good line of sight to all points for safer movement of the platform. The climate-controlled cab gives comfort and safe haven from the elements."

The 20CPT Tractor also reduced traffic control and logistics of loading and offloading, including identifying where to park a tractor trailer. Eliminating these logistical headaches also enhances operator safety.

“It’s safer and more efficient by eliminating the need to load up equipment on a trailer to get a mile or two down the road,” Cleary said. “With the tractor, we drive down the side of the road with our support truck as an escort.”

He finds the 20CPT Tractor to be beneficial on highway projects in addition to the agricultural solar fields.

“We completed 77 borings over a 29-mile stretch of highway for a DOT investigation in four to five days,” he said.

He acknowledges the relationship they’ve developed with Geoprobe^®, specifically Schmidt; Cory Harvey, Direct Image^® engineer; and Doug Koehler, sales manager, made the process of dreaming up something new easy, fun, and fruitful.

“The DNA of Geoprobe^® is to listen and engage us as a partner,” Cleary said. “They worked with our feedback and put the extra effort into engineering to make sure everything was working right.”