1) The Proctor compaction test is used to determine the optimal moisture content and maximum dry density of soil. It involves compacting soil in layers in a mold using controlled blows and measuring the dry density at different moisture contents. 2) The test procedure involves weighing equipment, sieving dry soil, compacting soil in layers using blows from a ram, weighing the compacted soil, determining moisture content, and repeating at different moisture contents. 3) A compaction curve is made by plotting dry density against moisture content. The peak of the curve indicates the optimum moisture content which produces the highest dry density.