The area survey is designed to sample a region by acquiring measurements at a uniform spacing along X- and Y-axes in a regular cartesian grid. The direction of travel with an instrument is commonly referred to as a traverse (or line), and traverses are commonly separated by a uniform distance (typically between 0.25 m to several meters, depending on the desired sampling density). Along each traverse geophysical measurements, or samples, are obtained at regular intervals (see traverses and samples) dictated by the nature of the instrument and the desired sampling density (as small as 0.01 m for ground penetrating radar to several meters).

The parallel survey method is uni-directional, with each traverse beginning at the same end of a survey region. After completion of each traverse one is required to return to the opposite end of the survey area before undertaking the next traverse. It is therefore a slower and less efficient method than the zig-zag technique, that nearly doubles the distance walked.

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