The International Journal of Remote Sensing is an international peer-reviewed journal published since 1980 by Taylor & Francis in collaboration with the Remote Sensing & Photogrammetric Society, in online and print editions.

The International Journal of Remote Sensing is concerned with the science and technology of remote sensing and the applications of remotely sensed data in all major disciplines. The IJRS has wide range of interest, but the principal topics are: data collection, analysis, interpretation and display; surveying from space, air and water platforms; sensors; image processing; use of remotely sensed data; economic surveys and cost-benefit analyses. The journal contains primary research papers on basic science, techniques and applications, review articles, short technical notes and a section of Remote Sensing Letters containing material that merits fast publication. Many papers feature illustrations in colour.

1. Introduction

The impact of all scientific papers, and the effectiveness of the search-and-retrieval capabilities offered by their electronic publication will depend upon the care used by authors in preparing their manuscripts. It is essential that authors prepare manuscripts according to the IJRS' established format and style specifications. These are detailed below, in Section 5, and its associated documentation.. Failure to follow these specifications will result in your paper being delayed during, or even rejected from, the peer review process.

Therefore, prospective contributors are required to read through these specifications carefully before preparing a manuscript for submission, and to check the manuscript for compliance with these specifications before submitting it for consideration for peer review.

2. Submitting a Paper to International Journal of Remote Sensing

Papers for consideration for peer review must be submitted via the International Journal of Remote Sensing's Manuscript Central site. New authors will be requested to create an account on the site before submitting their manuscript. Once a user is logged onto the site submissions should be made via the Author Centre. A helpdesk and an online user guide are accessible from this site.

No other form of submission will be accepted.

3. General Guidelines

Writing your paper

• For all manuscripts non-discriminatory language is mandatory. Sexist or racist terms should not be used.
• Length of the different types of papers:
  • Research papers are typically between 5000 and 8000 words debating and exploring theoretical and methodological issues, methodological approaches and substantive topics. However, there is not necessarily any lower or upper limit on length.
  • Remote Sensing Letters offers authors a route for rapid communication of advance results of research and application, and may later become the subject of a full paper. Authors submitting Letters for consideration should treat requests for revision as a matter of priority: in turn, both the Letters Editor and the Publishers will fast-track the handling of Letters. Letters must not exceed 8 printed pages of the Journal (the equivalent of 2000 words including tables, figures and references) and will normally be published within four months of acceptance.
  • Technical Notes are designed as a medium for the publication of short communications that, however, do not require the fast-track publication route offered for Letters. Technical notes are typically between the equivalent of 1000 and 2000 words.
• Papers are normally published in English, but manuscripts in French and German are acceptable for consideration at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief.
• Manuscripts should be single-spaced throughout including the reference section, with wide (3 cm) margins.  
• Manuscripts should be compiled in the following order: title page; abstract; main text; acknowledgments; appendixes (as appropriate); references; table(s) with caption(s) (can be uploaded separately); figures with caption(s) (can also be uploaded separately).
• Section headings should be concise and numbered sequentially, using a decimal system for subsections.
• Authors must adhere to SI units. Units are not italicised
• When using a word which is or is asserted to be a proprietary term or trade mark authors must use the symbol ® or TM or alternatively a footnote can be inserted using the wording below:

• Where correct terminology for geographical names is concerned we refer you to the United Nations website, at http://unstats.un.org/unsd/geoinfo/about_us.htm

• Special Issues - Advice to Guest Editors 

4. Copyright

It is a condition of publication that authors assign copyright or license the publication rights in their articles, including abstracts, to Taylor & Francis. This enables us to ensure full copyright protection and to disseminate the article, and of course the Journal, to the widest possible readership in print and electronic formats as appropriate. Authors retain many rights under the Taylor & Francis rights policies, which can be found at www.informaworld.com/authors_journals_copyright_position. Authors are themselves responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce copyright material from other sources.

Exceptions are made for authors of Crown or US Government employees whose policies require that copyright cannot be transferred to other parties. We ask that a signed statement to this effect is submitted when returning proofs for accepted papers.

• Further details and FAQs on Taylor & Francis's policy on copyright and authors' rights

For details on copyright permission click here. Copies of the permission letters should be sent with the manuscript to the Editors.

5. Notes on Style and File Formats

For a full description of the Journal's style (including referencing) click here.

To download a LaTeX style guide and Class file for this Journal, click here. When submitting your paper to the Manuscript Central site LaTeX files should first be converted into a PDF. Manuscript Central is not able to convert LaTeX files into PDFs directly.

To download a Word template for this journal, click here.

Authors are requested to provide a Word or LaTex file of the final version of their accepted paper.

6. Offprints and Reprints

Free article access: Corresponding authors will receive free online access to their article through our website (www.informaworld.com). Reprints of articles published in this journal can be purchased through Rightslink® when proofs are received. If you have any queries, please contact our reprints department at reprints@tandf.co.uk

7. Page Charges

Authors whose manuscripts have been accepted for publication have the option to pay a one-off fee to make their article free to read online ie "Open access" via the International Journal of Remote Sensing website. Choosing this option also allows authors to post their article in an institutional or subject repository immediately upon publication.

• Further details on iOpenAccess