ISO 18589-3:2015规定了使用伽马光谱法测定大量发射γ射线放射性核素的土壤中的活性。适用于大容量样品（高达约3 000 cm 3）的这种无损检测方法涵盖了光子能量在5keV和3MeV之间的所有存在的γ发射体的单次测量中的测定。 执行常规放射性测量的测试实验室可以应用ISO 18589-3:2015，因为大多数伽马发射放射性核素的特征在于40keV和2MeV之间的伽马射线。 该方法可以使用锗或其他类型的分辨率优于5keV的检测器来实现。 ISO 18589-3:2015针对负责确定辐射防护目的的土壤中发射放射性核素活动的人员

ISO 18589-3:2015 specifies the identification and the measurement of the activity in soils of a large number of gamma-emitting radionuclides using gamma spectrometry. This non-destructive method, applicable to large-volume samples (up to about 3 000 cm3), covers the determination in a single measurement of all the γ-emitters present for which the photon energy is between 5 keV and 3 MeV. ISO 18589-3:2015 can be applied by test laboratories performing routine radioactivity measurements as a majority of gamma-emitting radionuclides is characterized by gamma-ray emission between 40 keV and 2 MeV. The method can be implemented using a germanium or other type of detector with a resolution better than 5 keV. ISO 18589-3:2015 is addressed to people responsible for determining gamma-emitting radionuclides activity present in soils for the purpose of radiation protection.