Material analysis including density and moisture content determinations

A method for determining a compaction of a material, the method comprising the steps of:

• measuring an impedance of the material using a sensor;
• determining a compaction indication of the material based on the impedance, wherein the compaction indication includes at least one of an accurate absolute density as determined based on a material model, and an estimated absolute density as determined based on an approximated material model;
• and
• correcting the compaction indication with at least a compaction process correction.

A material analyzer system comprising:

• a sensor;
• and
• an analyzer unit including:
• an electronic circuit operatively coupled to the sensor for generating an electrical field from the sensor proximate the material;
• and
• a data analyzer, operatively coupled to the electronic circuit, that determines a property of the material by implementing a material model capable of determining the property based on an effect of impedance characteristics of the material on the electrical field,
• wherein the material model implements a non-linear multiple variable-parameter estimator.