The purpose of the transect survey is to acquire geophysical data from a single traverse, usually to examine the nature of changes or anomalies that might occur along a line of interest. Usually a number of transects are surveyed that criss-cross a region of interest that can allow rudimentary knowledge of structures within the area (they do not offer the same detail as an area survey, however).

Electrical resistance profile across a prehistoric ditch feature not visible on the surface but seen in aerial photography. Measurements were acquired every 50 cm along the transect.

Transect surveys are common to the geological sciences where kilometers-long profiles are generated. In archaeology they are useful for making profiles across places of interest, for example, across a suspected wall, ditch, or house floor feature.

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