Nuclear radiation apparatus and methods for surveying physical characteristics and properties

This patent describes a method of surveying an area for variation in a physical characteristic effective for modifying nuclear radiation of a predetermined type. The method employes a nuclear radiation gauge which measures the modification of nuclear radiation of the predetermined type and a programmable memory device for storing digital information. The method consists of: (a) placing the nuclear radiation gauge at a predetermined location within a predetermined array on the area to be surveyed, (b) generating a digital signal representative of the measured characteristic at the location and registering the signal in the programmable memory device, (c) generating a signal indicative of the next successive location within the predetermined array at which the step of signal generating and registering is to be repeated and displaying to an operator the indicated next successive locations, (d) moving the gauge to the indicated next successive location, and (e) repeating steps (b), (c), and (d) at the next successive location within the predetermined array