Before comparing titles, work out which of three papers you have written: a methods paper advancing an algorithm, an applications paper using established methods to answer an earth science question, or a data paper describing a resource. Journals specialise, and the strongest applications paper will be rejected by a methods journal.
Judge a journal on four things
- Scope emphasis. Sensor and algorithm development, or applied earth observation? Read the last two issues, not the scope statement alone.
- Indexing. Verify at Scopus Sources or the Web of Science Master Journal List — never on the journal's own page. See how the indexes differ.
- Data expectations. Many now require imagery, code or processing chains to be deposited. Check before submitting.
- Turnaround and fees. Both should be published before you submit.
What reviewers in this field consistently ask for
Remote sensing peer review has recognisable patterns. Papers are returned for:
- Validation against ground truth. Accuracy claimed without independent reference data.
- Atmospheric and geometric correction unstated. Which correction, which parameters, which software version.
- Confusion matrices omitted. Overall accuracy alone is not sufficient; producer and user accuracy per class are expected.
- Sampling design for accuracy assessment. How reference points were selected, and whether independently of training data.
- Transferability. Whether the method works outside the single scene it was developed on.
Open access options
Remote sensing has a strong open access sector, which matters because the readership includes practitioners in agencies and NGOs without subscription access.
Cloud Publications publishes the International Journal of Advanced Remote Sensing and GIS (IJARSG, ISSN 2320-0243), a peer-reviewed open access journal covering satellite and aerial imagery, image classification, spatial analysis, photogrammetry, land use and land cover, hydrological mapping and disaster monitoring. It publishes original research, reviews, case studies and methodology articles, and is free to read worldwide.
Related titles in the same imprint include the International Journal of Advanced Earth Science and Engineering (IJAESE, ISSN 2320-3609) for work leaning toward geosphere, hydrology and oceanography, and the International Journal of Advanced Alternative Energy, Environment and Ecology (IJAAEEE, ISSN 2348-5159) for environmental and climate applications.
Preparing the submission
Figures carry disproportionate weight in this field. Every map needs a scale bar, north arrow, coordinate system and legend; every classified image needs its class colours defined. Check that figures remain legible in greyscale, because many readers print.
For the wider process, see writing the paper and choosing the right journal.