Journal profile · Physics and Astronomy-Instrumentation
PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science
ISSN 2512-2789 · eISSN 2512-2819 · Springer International Publishing · Switzerland · 6 issues per year · Founded 2017
PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science: CAS Zone 4 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 3.21; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,490; median 189 days to acceptance (69 articles, last 24 months); 39 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science is published by Springer International Publishing and is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications, 3D Surveying and Cultural Heritage and Remote Sensing in Agriculture, together about 42% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
PFG is an international scholarly journal covering the progress and application of photogrammetric methods, remote sensing technology and the interconnected field of geoinformation science. PFG accepts original papers on communication of new methodologies in data acquisition and new approaches to optimized processing and interpretation of all types of data which were acquired by photogrammetric methods, remote sensing, image processing and the computer-aided interpretation of such data in general. The journal hence addresses both researchers and students of these disciplines at academic institutions and universities as well as the downstream users in both the private sector and public administration. Founded in 1926 under the former name Bildmessung und Luftbildwesen, PFG is worldwide the oldest journal on photogrammetry. It is the official journal of the German Society for Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation (DGPF) and welcomes the submission of English and German language articles. Information on the society can be found at: http://www.dgpf.de
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Physics and Astronomy-Instrumentation
Editor-in-chief Markus GerkePublisher website
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 4%); most named Germany 17, Austria 3, Mainland China 1, France 1, Poland 1 (23 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR ApplicationsEnvironmental Science18.5%
- 3D Surveying and Cultural HeritageEarth and Planetary Sciences13.8%
- Remote Sensing in AgricultureEnvironmental Science9.8%
- Remote-Sensing Image ClassificationEngineering6.6%
- Robotics and Sensor-Based LocalizationEngineering5.4%
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Applications and TechniquesEngineering5%
- Cryospheric studies and observationsEarth and Planetary Sciences3.5%
- Satellite Image Processing and PhotogrammetryEngineering3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Remote Sensing | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Remote Sensing | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Remote Sensing | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Astrophysics Data System, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS, Semantic ScholarPublisher website
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 3.21LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.1Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 3.9Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 6.9LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.84LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.23LetPub ·
- h-index
- 32OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 95OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.43OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 3.2%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 59.8%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 32LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 182,300Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 389 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 43 | 24 | 7 |
| 2025 | 39 | 20 | 80 |
| 2024 | 56 | 36 | 249 |
| 2023 | 37 | 21 | 303 |
| 2022 | 42 | 25 | 437 |
| 2021 | 50 | 21 | 355 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
189 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 142 days – 250 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 27 days (78 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 215 days
- Sample
- 69 articles with submission and acceptance dates (93 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Submission to first decision
- 29 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,490 / EUR 2,790 / GBP 2,490 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Open calls for papers1, by deadline
Publisher websiteWhat to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, License & copyright, Open access
- AI use Generative AI Images
LLMs do not satisfy authorship criteria; AI-assisted copy editing need not be declared Model summary
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Competing Interests
Competing interests disclosure required Model summary
Authors are requested to disclose interests that are directly or indirectly related to the work submitted for publication. Interests within the last 3 years of beginning the work (conducting the research and preparing the work for submission) should be reported. Interests outside the 3-year time frame must be disclosed if they could reasonably be perceived as influencing the submitted work. Disclo…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data availability statement required for all original research Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright
Open Choice articles do not require transfer of copyright as the copyright remains with the author. In opting for open access, the author(s) agree to publish the article under a Creative Commons license. Details of the OA licences offered to authors can be found on the individual journal website, in the journal's How to publish with us guide. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in PFG – Journal of Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Springer International Publishing
- Country or region
- Switzerland
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- 6 issues per year
- Founded
- 2017
- ISSN
- 2512-2789
- Electronic ISSN
- 2512-2819
- Society / sponsor
- German Society for Photogrammetry
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 94, Issue 4 (August 2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science
What CAS zone is PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science is in Zone 4 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Imaging Science & Photographic Technology / Remote Sensing. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 3.21; CiteScore 6.9, h-index 32.
How long does peer review take at PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science?
Based on the dates recorded on 69 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 189 days (interquartile range 142–250 days). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science based?
Of the 23 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 4%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are Germany (17), Austria (3) and Mainland China (1). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science open access, and what is the APC?
PFG-Journal of Photogrammetry Remote Sensing and Geoinformation Science is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,490.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-26). Last updated: .