Journal profile · REMOTE SENSING
Remote Sensing
ISSN 2072-4292 · MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) · SWITZERLAND · Founded 2009
Remote Sensing: CAS Zone 2 · Earth Sciences (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 4.32; JCR Q1 (journal website); fully open access; APC charged, amount not published; review 3–8 weeks (community reports); 4,100 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Remote Sensing is published by MDPI (Basel, Switzerland) and is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Remote Sensing in Agriculture, Remote Sensing and LiDAR Applications and Remote-Sensing Image Classification, together about 32.5% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Remote Sensing (ISSN 2072-4292) publishes regular research papers, reviews, technical notes and communications covering all aspects of remote sensing science, from sensor design, validation/calibration, to its application in geosciences, environmental sciences, ecology and civil engineering. Our aim is to publish novel/improved methods/approaches and/or algorithms of remote sensing to benefit the community, open to everyone in need of them. There is no restriction on the maximum length of the papers or colors used. The method/approach must be presented in detail so that the results can be reproduced. There are, in addition, three unique features of this Journal: Manuscripts regarding research proposals and research ideas are welcome Electronic files and software regarding the full details of the calculation and experimental procedure, if unable to be published in a normal way, can be deposited as supplementary material We also accept manuscripts communicating to a broader audience with regard to research projects financed with public funds
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): REMOTE SENSING
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Remote Sensing in AgricultureEnvironmental Science14.2%
- Remote Sensing and LiDAR ApplicationsEnvironmental Science10.3%
- Remote-Sensing Image ClassificationEngineering8%
- Land Use and Ecosystem ServicesEnvironmental Science5.8%
- Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) Applications and TechniquesEngineering5.1%
- Cryospheric studies and observationsEarth and Planetary Sciences4.3%
- Remote Sensing and Land UseEarth and Planetary Sciences3.9%
- Soil Moisture and Remote SensingEnvironmental Science3.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Remote Sensing | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Remote Sensing | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Earth Sciences Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Earth Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Environmental Sciences | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Geosciences, Multidisciplinary | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Imaging Science & Photographic Technology | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Remote Sensing | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
JCR / CiteScore quartiles on the journal's website
- JCR Q1 · Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
- CiteScore Q1 · General Earth and Planetary Sciences
Publisher-reported: JCR figures are Clarivate's and CiteScore figures Scopus's to confirm; both are a different system from the CAS zones.Publisher website
Database indexing
SCIEScopusDOAJLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
EI CompendexWeb of ScienceINSPECDBLPGeoRefPublisher website
Other: Astrophysics Data System
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
- 4.32LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 4.3Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 5Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 9.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 9.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 1.01LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.25LetPub ·
- h-index
- 81LetPub ·
- h-index
- 277OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 25,081OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 5.12OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 11.6%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 99.97%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 4,180LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 43,560 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3,201 | 3,201 | 1,454 |
| 2025 | 4,100 | 4,100 | 17,532 |
| 2024 | 4,745 | 4,745 | 42,681 |
| 2023 | 5,725 | 5,725 | 82,588 |
| 2022 | 6,482 | 6,482 | 132,219 |
| 2021 | 5,238 | 5,238 | 144,612 |
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
- Average review time (community reports)
- 3–8 weeksLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 22 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2.9 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication
- 49 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to publication (journal-reported)
- about 6 weeksDOAJ ·
- Peer review
- Single anonymous peer reviewDOAJ
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
Fully open accessDOAJ
Every article is open access; authors usually pay an article processing charge (APC).
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DOAJ | CHF 2,700 | Yes | CC BY | |
| OpenAlex | CHF 2,700 | — | — | |
| LetPub | CHF 2,700 | Yes | — | |
| Publisher website | CHF 250 | — | — |
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)
What to prepare3 items from the author guidelines
- Templates
- LaTeX and Word
- Suggested reviewers
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Required
Article types accepted22
- articlesArticles: Original research manuscripts, which should comprise at least 18 pages with results and discussion separately in two sections.Length not stated
- book reviewAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- brief communicationAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- brief reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- case reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- commentaryAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- communicationCommunication: Communications are short, rapid articles that report results of important preliminary research findings, ongoing research projects or results of …Length not stated
- conference reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- editorialAll peer-reviewed articles published by MDPI are assessed by our independent Academic Editors, and MDPI staff are not involved in any editorial decisions regard…Length not stated
- hypothesisAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- letterAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- opinionAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- perspectiveAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- protocolAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- registered reportAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- reviewAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- reviewsReviews: These should provide concise and precise updates on the latest progress made in a given area of research and should be at least 20 pages.Length not stated
- systematic reviewAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- technical noteAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- technical notesTechnical Notes: These are short articles (less than 18 pages) on new developments, significant advances and novel aspects of experimental and theoretical metho…Length not stated
- tutorialAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
- viewpointAll Article Types Article Review Communication Editorial Abstract Book Review Brief Communication Brief Report Case Report Clinicopathological Challenge Comment…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAuthorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- Authorship Authorship
MDPI follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) guidelines which state that, in order to qualify for authorship of a manuscript, the following criteria should be observed: Make substantial contributions to the conception or design of the work, or the acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data for the work; Draft the work or review it critically for important intel…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Conflicts of Interest
According to The International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, “Authors should avoid entering into agreements with study sponsors, both for-profit and non-profit, that interfere with authors’ access to all of the study’s data or that interfere with their ability to analyze and interpret the data and to prepare and publish manuscripts independently when and where they choose.” All authors mus…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Authors must publish all experimental controls and make full datasets available where possible. Model summary
Data availability statements are required for all articles published with MDPI. During the peer review and editorial decision process, authors can be asked to share existing datasets or raw data that have been analyzed in the manuscript, and whether they will be made available to other researchers following publication. Authors will also be asked for the details of any existing datasets that have …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Publication Ethics Statement
Remote Sensing is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). We fully adhere to its Code of Conduct and to its Best Practice Guidelines. The editors of this journal enforce a rigorous peer review process together with strict ethical policies and standards to ensure to add high quality scientific works to the field of scholarly publication. Unfortunately, cases of plagiarism, data fals…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright Copyright / Open Access
Articles published in Remote Sensing will be Open-Access articles distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The copyright is retained by the author(s). MDPI will insert the following note at the end of the published text: © 2026 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publication fees
No maximum length restriction on manuscripts. Model summary
If you transfer your manuscript to another open access (OA) journal, you will be charged an Article Processing Charge (APC) if your article is accepted for publication. The APC for each journal can be found on the individual journal’s website. For more information about APCs, please see here.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Editorial Process and Peer Review
All submissions are thoroughly peer-reviewed by experts within the field and undergo a structured editorial workflow designed to ensure quality, transparency, and scientific integrity. The full editorial procedure is available on the Editorial Process page and is also provided below. Pre-check Pre-check consists of a technical pre-check performed by the Editorial Office and an editorial pre-check …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints and Conference Papers
Manuscripts must not be published previously or under consideration elsewhere. Model summary
Remote Sensing accepts submissions that have previously been made available as preprints provided that they have not undergone peer review. A preprint is a draft version of a paper made available online before submission to a journal. MDPI operates Preprints, a preprint server to which submitted papers can be uploaded directly after completing journal submission. Note that Preprints operates indep…
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
- MDPI (Basel, Switzerland)
- Country or region
- SWITZERLAND
- Language
- English
- Founded
- 2009
- ISSN
- 2072-4292
- Latest issue on the website
- Volume 18 (2026)
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗DOAJ
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
- Aims & Scope ↗LetPub
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
- APC information ↗DOAJ
- Fee waivers ↗DOAJ
- Open access statement ↗DOAJ
- License & copyright ↗DOAJ
- Peer review process ↗LetPub
- Editorial board ↗LetPub
- Plagiarism policy ↗DOAJ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Remote Sensing
What CAS zone is Remote Sensing in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Remote Sensing is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences, and in Zone 2 of the minor category Imaging Science & Photographic Technology / Environmental Sciences / Geosciences, Multidisciplinary / Remote Sensing. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Remote Sensing?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 4.32; CiteScore 9.4, h-index 277.
How long does peer review take at Remote Sensing?
Authors report an average review time of 3–8 weeks. 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 JCR quartile is Remote Sensing in?
The journal's website gives JCR Q1; by category, Geosciences, Multidisciplinary Q1. JCR quartiles are Clarivate's to confirm and a different system from the CAS zones; in the CAS ranking the journal is in Zone 2 of Earth Sciences.
What are the manuscript requirements of Remote Sensing?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Templates: LaTeX and Word; Suggested reviewers: Required; Graphical abstract: Required. 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.
Which databases index Remote Sensing?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Remote Sensing is indexed in SCIE, Scopus and DOAJ. The journal's website also lists EI Compendex, Web of Science, INSPEC, DBLP and GeoRef; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Remote Sensing open access, and what is the APC?
Remote Sensing is a fully open-access journal. APC charged, amount not published.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex, DOAJ; 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: .