How did you discover the Panda?

I attended the first demonstration of the Panda in Clermont-Ferrand, in 1992, organized by Sol Solution with Mr. Roberti, the person in charge for the works studies division of EDF Clermont, which had known it through other departments within EDF-GDF. My colleagues and I were immediately allured by this apparatus which makes it possible to measure compaction, but also the thicknesses of materials implemented. It was very interesting for us, and we were among the first users and promoters of the Panda. Initially, one did not have nothing like it, except the services of the DDE with a gamma densimeter, which was limited in-depth and only the density measured, compared with the Proctor optimum.

How did you develop its use?

Initially we used a Panda for ourselves, then in 1995 we developed a partnership with France Telecom and the DDE, around a protocol for the reinstatement of  trenches. The idea of this protocol allowed a bringing together of all relevant parties by a single symposium common to France Telecom, EDF-GDF and the DDE.

EGS Touraine continued its formation by a 3 day training course leading to the increased knowledge of geotechnics and geological studies, and the use of the Panda. Our success allowed the initial purchase of five Pandas, for each technical group of agency. The objective, in our constructional works contracts, was that each company managed to monitor and police our works gangs, while systematically giving us a definitive report of compaction at the end of each site. That fell under a step of total quality, in particular with the carriers who were brought to provide us classification GTR of all materials delivered to site.