System and method for laying down and compacting an asphalt layer

An apparatus for laying down an asphalt layer made of asphalt material during a paving operation, comprising a road paver having at least one screed including at least one compacting tool, a self-propelled compacting device capable of producing a predetermined final degree of compaction in the asphalt layer, and an electronic material density module functionally associated with the road paver, the electronic material density module collecting data during the paving operation of the asphalt layer to determine an actual degree of compaction produced in the area of at least one of the compacting tools,

• the road paver having a navigation apparatus linked to the electronic material density module for obtaining position data of the area of the asphalt layer, and combining the actual degree of compaction of the asphalt layer in the area of the asphalt layer determined by the electronic material density module with the obtained position data,
• and wherein data communication links are provided between the electronic material density module and the compacting device for carrying data for use in adjusting a compaction power required by the compacting device in order to produce the final degree of compaction at the respective area of the asphalt layer.