Application and Prospect of Remote Sensing Technology in Geological Survey of Northwest China

Northwest China is a vast and sparsely populated area with a complex geological structure, rich natural resources and an unusually fragile ecological environment, so the use of remote sensing technology to carry out geological surveys can achieve twice the result with half the effort. This paper firstly briefly reviews the development of remote sensing geology and the overall effectiveness of remote sensing geological work in Northwest China; secondly, it systematically summarizes the technical innovation results and new understanding achieved by Xi'an Geological Survey Center through constructing the "Demonstration System of Remote Sensing Detection and Monitoring of Natural Resources in Northwest Special Landscape Area"; meanwhile, it objectively analyzes the applicability, practicality and potential of remote sensing technology in Northwest China's geological work, and shows the important pioneering role of remote sensing technology in Northwest China's resource and energy exploration, geological environment investigation and monitoring, and resource and environment effect analysis in recent years. By sorting out the new challenges and technical shortcomings of using remote sensing technology to solve typical resource and environmental problems in Northwest China, we propose that "The 14th Five-Year Plan period" should focus on four application directions:implementation of key ecological projects in Northwest China and comprehensive improvement of key regions, restoration and improvement of mine geological environment, rapid exploration of strategic mineral resources, and optimization of land space in cold and arid regions. At the same time, we should continuously integrate new and advanced information technologies such as big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, 5G and blockchain to carry out mechanism research and methodological innovation in remote sensing rapid and intelligent identification of natural resource elements, quantitative analysis and simulation prediction of dynamic changes in geological environment, spectral remote sensing earth health examination combined with spectrum and image. The results can provide theoretical basis and technical reference for promoting the integration of production-academia-research-use of remote sensing technology in the geological survey of Northwest China.