What does "compaction" refer to when operating heavy equipment?

Compaction in the context of operating heavy equipment specifically refers to the process of densifying soil or materials. This is achieved by reducing the volume of air spaces within the soil particles through mechanical means, utilizing equipment such as rollers, compactors, or tampers. When soil is compacted, its density increases, which leads to improved strength and stability. This is crucial in construction and civil engineering for ensuring a solid foundation for structures, roadways, and other infrastructure.

While breaking down soil, leveling surfaces, and preparing materials for transport are important tasks in the field of heavy equipment operation, they do not encapsulate the primary goal of compaction, which focuses solely on increasing material density and stability through compression.