Remote sensing innovations, cloud-based platform unveiled in Beijing

Seven categories of cutting-edge remote sensing innovations and a cloud-based open platform were unveiled at a press conference on Friday in Beijing, promising to enhance satellite data applications across a wide range of industries.

The event, themed "Quantitative Remote Sensing: Empowering Industries via the Cloud", was co-hosted by the National Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Satellite Applications, and the Aerospace Information Research Institute (AIRI) under the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

It featured the release of 21 common quantitative remote sensing products spanning seven categories including vegetation ecology, water resources, soil, and atmospheric applications.

"Quantitative remote sensing products translate ground observations into measurable physical quantities. For example, crops supply food to humanity through photosynthesis, but how much do they actually produce? By using indicators such as leaf area index or evapotranspiration, we can quantify the solar energy absorbed, enabling detailed and precise analysis. It's fair to say that quantitative remote sensing is deeply connected to people's livelihoods, production, and social development," explained Zhang Bing, director of the National Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Satellite Applications.

The event also marked the launch of the GEOvis cloud-based open platform, jointly developed by the National Engineering Research Center for Remote Sensing Satellite Applications and GEOvis, a leading digital Earth technology provider in China.

The platform integrates the seven categories of quantitative remote sensing products into cloud-based services, significantly expanding application scenarios and unlocking potential across various industries.

"We aim to deliver high-quality, standardized common quantitative remote sensing products released today for the entire industry, with robust government support. By making these products directly accessible, we can lower the threshold of applications and enhance the overall performance of remote sensing satellite applications," said Wu Yirong, head of the AIRI, CAS.

Remote sensing innovations, cloud-based platform unveiled in Beijing

China has established more than 5,500 green mines at or above the provincial level, marking positive progress in the country's green mining development, an official from the Ministry of Natural Resources said at a news conference in Beijing on Tuesday ahead of this year's World Earth Day.

According to Dong Qingji, deputy director general of the Ministry of Natural Resources' department of mineral resources protection and supervision, green mining requirements have been written into the Mineral Resources Law and the Ecological Environment Code, providing strong legal backing. A working system featuring government guidance, departmental coordination, enterprise leadership and public supervision is now largely in place.

China is accelerating the construction of green mines and will organize the selection of a new batch of national-level green mines. Currently, there are over 1,000 national-level green mines and more than 4,500 provincial-level green mines in the country.

Looking ahead, the ministry will continue to promote the construction and operation of all newly built mines in accordance with green mine standards, while speeding up the green transformation and upgrading of existing operating mines. For mines that have not yet initiated green transition, they are required to launch green mine construction as soon as possible, fulfill their obligations for ecological restoration in mining areas, and strengthen ecological restoration and governance in these areas.

China builds over 5,500 green mines, advances sustainable mining