FDOT EARTHWORK LEVEL 1 RELIABLE EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+2025/2026
✔✔Direct transmission is - ✔✔a rod with Cesium-137 lowered to depth. The photons
pass through material to the gauge.
✔✔Backscatter geometry is - ✔✔gamma photons reflected on to material and required
to have at least one reach the gauge.
✔✔The standard block and gauge must have matching - ✔✔serial numbers
✔✔If daily standard counts are out of tolerance even after being re-run what do you do?
- ✔✔Replace gauge
✔✔Gauge calibration must be performed by - ✔✔qualified personnel
✔✔How often must the gauge be calibrated per FDOT - ✔✔Annually (FDOT) or when
needed
✔✔Take standard counts daily to - ✔✔detect inconsistencies early
✔✔Standard counts are taken - ✔✔every day its used and to measure equipment aging
and drift
✔✔In the gauge diary (for standard counts) when it is not used what do you put down? -
✔✔Idle
✔✔During a standard count the gauge must be how far from large objects - ✔✔10ft
✔✔During a standard count the gauge must be how far from any nuclear source -
✔✔30ft
✔✔The standard count must be performed on what time of ground - ✔✔Aspahlt,
concrete, or >100pcf material (greater than)
✔✔Keep the standard block and gauge - ✔✔level and stable
✔✔For turning on the gauge how must it be handled - ✔✔Warm up per manufacturer's
instructions
✔✔How do you determine the day to day shift - ✔✔Find the Average of the previous 4
counts.
Find the difference between the avg and that days count.
Take the difference and divide it by the average.
, Multiply the result by 100.
Do this for for both density and moisture counts separately.
✔✔The shift tolerance for density counts is - ✔✔a shift of 1% or less
✔✔The shift tolerance for moisture counts is - ✔✔a shift of 2% or less
✔✔A gauge must be how far from all vertical projections - ✔✔6 inches
✔✔When smoothing a test site remove all what? - ✔✔Loose and disturbed material
✔✔When smoothing a test site and it has voids how big what do you do? - ✔✔1/8 of an
inch. Use native fines to fill the voids
✔✔Always drive the drill rod to testing depth length and - ✔✔another 2 more inches
✔✔Remove the drill rod by - ✔✔rotating and pulling straight up
✔✔After placing the gauge in the test hole be sure to do what with the gauge and rod -
✔✔Pull it gently to the side so the rod comes in contact with the hole
✔✔What is the scaler on the gauge? - ✔✔The digital readout
✔✔What do you obtain from a density reading? - ✔✔Wet density
Soil Dry Density Count
Soil Moisture Count
✔✔Record the wet density at an accuracy of - ✔✔the nearest 0.1 pcf
✔✔Record the dry density county at an accuracy of - ✔✔the nearest 0.1 pcf
✔✔Record the percent moisture to (if approved) - ✔✔the nearest 0.1%
✔✔When can percent moisture be approved to be used with a gauge? - ✔✔When the
gauge and material has been approved
✔✔If a gauge is not approved you have to do what - ✔✔Dig to depth of hole and obtain
a sample from the side walls for a speedy test
✔✔Determine the dry density by - ✔✔Taking the wet density / 1.(moisture) = dry density
To the nearest 0.1pcf
✔✔To determine the percent maximum density - ✔✔Take the
WITH SOLUTIONS GRADED A+2025/2026
✔✔Direct transmission is - ✔✔a rod with Cesium-137 lowered to depth. The photons
pass through material to the gauge.
✔✔Backscatter geometry is - ✔✔gamma photons reflected on to material and required
to have at least one reach the gauge.
✔✔The standard block and gauge must have matching - ✔✔serial numbers
✔✔If daily standard counts are out of tolerance even after being re-run what do you do?
- ✔✔Replace gauge
✔✔Gauge calibration must be performed by - ✔✔qualified personnel
✔✔How often must the gauge be calibrated per FDOT - ✔✔Annually (FDOT) or when
needed
✔✔Take standard counts daily to - ✔✔detect inconsistencies early
✔✔Standard counts are taken - ✔✔every day its used and to measure equipment aging
and drift
✔✔In the gauge diary (for standard counts) when it is not used what do you put down? -
✔✔Idle
✔✔During a standard count the gauge must be how far from large objects - ✔✔10ft
✔✔During a standard count the gauge must be how far from any nuclear source -
✔✔30ft
✔✔The standard count must be performed on what time of ground - ✔✔Aspahlt,
concrete, or >100pcf material (greater than)
✔✔Keep the standard block and gauge - ✔✔level and stable
✔✔For turning on the gauge how must it be handled - ✔✔Warm up per manufacturer's
instructions
✔✔How do you determine the day to day shift - ✔✔Find the Average of the previous 4
counts.
Find the difference between the avg and that days count.
Take the difference and divide it by the average.
, Multiply the result by 100.
Do this for for both density and moisture counts separately.
✔✔The shift tolerance for density counts is - ✔✔a shift of 1% or less
✔✔The shift tolerance for moisture counts is - ✔✔a shift of 2% or less
✔✔A gauge must be how far from all vertical projections - ✔✔6 inches
✔✔When smoothing a test site remove all what? - ✔✔Loose and disturbed material
✔✔When smoothing a test site and it has voids how big what do you do? - ✔✔1/8 of an
inch. Use native fines to fill the voids
✔✔Always drive the drill rod to testing depth length and - ✔✔another 2 more inches
✔✔Remove the drill rod by - ✔✔rotating and pulling straight up
✔✔After placing the gauge in the test hole be sure to do what with the gauge and rod -
✔✔Pull it gently to the side so the rod comes in contact with the hole
✔✔What is the scaler on the gauge? - ✔✔The digital readout
✔✔What do you obtain from a density reading? - ✔✔Wet density
Soil Dry Density Count
Soil Moisture Count
✔✔Record the wet density at an accuracy of - ✔✔the nearest 0.1 pcf
✔✔Record the dry density county at an accuracy of - ✔✔the nearest 0.1 pcf
✔✔Record the percent moisture to (if approved) - ✔✔the nearest 0.1%
✔✔When can percent moisture be approved to be used with a gauge? - ✔✔When the
gauge and material has been approved
✔✔If a gauge is not approved you have to do what - ✔✔Dig to depth of hole and obtain
a sample from the side walls for a speedy test
✔✔Determine the dry density by - ✔✔Taking the wet density / 1.(moisture) = dry density
To the nearest 0.1pcf
✔✔To determine the percent maximum density - ✔✔Take the
