Prospects on future developments of quantitative remote sensing

With regard to the national needs and basic research,several critical issues should be addressed in quantitative remote sensing: inefficient use of mass remote sensing data,inadequate universality and systematicness of quantitative remote sensing research,and limits in remote sensing applications.Therefore,Remote Sensing Science(RSS) research subjects need to be integrated with other disciplines in order to advance our understanding of RSS.In the authors' opinion,due to the heterogeneity of the geo-surface,generalization and modeling on the basis of experimental data,as opposed to individual interpretation of a specific location,could be the key for the future research.Combining "a top-down deduction method" with "a bottom-up induction method" in integrative physical geography in China,we want to build a methodological framework to resolve the central issues of RSS,for instance,the "scale effect",and to create several open platforms(such as data,inversion and computer simulation),and to bring together experts from different disciplines.