The drake equation mechanics show up right when you start scanning for those abandoned outposts, since timing and positioning are crucial here. You'll notice specific patterns in how these structures generate - look for the brief visual cue from your analysis visor before triggering the scan, which gives you about 2 seconds to position correctly. The abandoned sites typically cluster around specific planetary coordinates, so stay within 500-600 units of your first discovery for optimal scanning range. When your scanner pulses red, that's your window to mark the location, but keep some distance since sentinel patrols often trigger within 200 units of these structures.

Your best approach is methodically sweeping each hemisphere starting at the poles, since the procedural generation creates detection zones that follow predictable latitude patterns. Once you hit 75% scanner strength, you'll notice additional structural variants appearing which require maintaining precise 45-degree scanning angles. Just remember that resource availability follows similar distribution patterns, so keeping track of both abandoned sites and nearby deposits helps optimize your exploration efficiency.