A method for characterizing a seat of a railroad track through penetrometric and geo-endoscopic tests, the method comprising the following steps:
- a) striking a ram head of a light dynamic penetrometer to insert a tipof a train of rods into the seat,
- b) measuring the resistance of the seat as a function of an insertion depth of the train of rods,
- c) removing the train of rods from the seat,
- d) Pushing a tube into a hole left by the train of rods, and
- e) Sliding an image-recording camera inside the tube, and the following additional automated steps:
- f) continuously measuring the position of the camera while the camera slides inside the tube, i.e., the depth at which the images are recorded, and
- g) coupling an analysis of the recorded images as a function of the depth with the strength measurements of the seat to characterize different layers of the seat.