Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing

Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing
Title	Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing
Discipline	Remote sensing, Earth observation, Geomatics
Abbreviation	Can. J. Remote Sens.
Publisher	Canadian Science Publishing
Country	Canada
Frequency	Quarterly
History	1975–present
Openaccess	Hybrid

Canadian Journal of Remote Sensing is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal covering remote sensing, Earth observation, and geomatics, publishing research on satellite imagery, airborne sensors, and sensor fusion. The journal serves researchers, practitioners, and policymakers working on Canadian and international applications of optical, radar, and lidar remote sensing in fields such as forestry, cryospheric science, hydrology, agriculture, and urban studies. It is associated with national and international institutions that include research councils, universities, and space agencies.

History

The journal was established in 1975 during a period of expanded satellite programs involving Canadian Space Agency, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and Russian Federal Space Agency. Early decades saw contributions from institutes tied to Natural Resources Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Research Council (Canada), University of British Columbia, and McGill University. Over time editorial leadership included scholars affiliated with University of Toronto, University of Alberta, McMaster University, Simon Fraser University, and Université Laval, reflecting ties to provincial agencies such as British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Alberta Innovates, and Quebec Centre for Biodiversity Science. The journal’s development paralleled missions such as Landsat program, Sentinel programme, RADARSAT-1, RADARSAT-2, and Terra (satellite), and intersected with international efforts like Global Climate Observing System and Group on Earth Observations.

Scope and Content

The journal publishes original research, review articles, technical notes, and case studies on topics including optical remote sensing, synthetic aperture radar, light detection and ranging, hyperspectral imaging, and unmanned aerial systems. Contributors have examined subjects linked to Boreal Forest, Arctic tundra, Hudson Bay, Great Lakes, Prairies, and Canadian Rockies as well as global sites studied under projects such as GEOSS, NASA Earth Observing System, Copernicus Programme, Global Precipitation Measurement and MODIS. Methodological advances reported draw on algorithms and approaches connected to Bayesian statistics, Support Vector Machines, Random Forests, Convolutional Neural Networks, Principal Component Analysis with implementation in software ecosystems like R (programming language), Python (programming language), ENVI, and QGIS. Applications include mapping ecosystems studied by Parks Canada, monitoring permafrost researched by Polar Knowledge Canada, and agricultural assessments relevant to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

Editorial and Publication Details

The journal is published by Canadian Science Publishing with an editorial board composed of academics and practitioners from institutions such as University of Waterloo, University of Calgary, Dalhousie University, University of Saskatchewan, University of Manitoba, University of Ottawa, and York University. Editorial policies reference standards aligned with professional societies like the International Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing, IEEE Geoscience and Remote Sensing Society, and national agencies including Canadian Space Agency and Natural Resources Canada. Production follows digital workflows interoperable with repositories like PubMed Central, institutional archives at Library and Archives Canada, and university presses including UBC Press and McGill-Queen's University Press.

Abstracting and Indexing

The journal is indexed in major bibliographic services and databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, GeoRef, CAB Abstracts, ProQuest, and EBSCOhost. Abstracting metadata are harvested by aggregators including CrossRef, ORCID, DataCite, and discovery services used by libraries at Harvard University, University of Oxford, Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University College London. Citation tracking integrates with tools like Google Scholar, Dimensions (database), and bibliometric analyses conducted by groups at Clarivate Analytics and Elsevier Research Intelligence.

Impact and Reception

The journal’s impact metrics have been cited in national assessments and used by researchers at National Science Foundation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, European Research Council, Australian Research Council, and funding bodies such as Canadian Institutes of Health Research where interdisciplinary remote sensing informs environmental health research. Scholarly reception is reflected in citations within works published by presses such as Cambridge University Press, Oxford University Press, and Springer Nature. Its articles have influenced policy and management at agencies including Parks Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and international programs like UNEP and UNESCO.

Notable Articles and Special Issues

The journal has published landmark studies on topics tied to missions and initiatives such as Landsat program, RADARSAT-2, Sentinel-2, ICESat, and CryoSat. Special issues have focused on themes connected to Arctic Council priorities, climate change reporting for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, permafrost monitoring under International Permafrost Association, and coastal zone applications relevant to International Hydrographic Organization. Guest editors have included researchers from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, European Space Agency, US Geological Survey, and NOAA.

Access and Licensing

The journal operates a hybrid access model offering open access options compliant with mandates from funders such as Wellcome Trust, Horizon Europe, Tri-Agency Open Access Policy on Publications, and UK Research and Innovation. Licensing choices include Creative Commons variants used widely by publishers like PLOS, BMC, and Frontiers Media. Subscription access is managed through consortia agreements with academic libraries at institutions including Canadian Research Knowledge Network, Research Libraries UK, and the Big Ten Academic Alliance.

Category:Remote sensing journals