The platform is dedicated to the basic theoretical study, key technology innovation, major industry application and innovative talent training in the fields of remote sensing science and technology, geographic information science and satellite navigation and positioning. The main research areas include:

1) Remote sensing information science, digital photogrammetry & remote sensing digital imaging, microwave remote sensing & hyperspectral remote sensing, quantitative remote sensing, remote sensing information engineering, and biomimetics & remote sensing.

2) Spatial information science, GIS software development technique and engineering, digital earth and digital cities, spatial information system engineering and infrastructure, and GIS modeling and application.

3) Satellite navigation technology and application, integrated navigation and intelligent transportation, LBS information service, bionic navigation, RS/GIS/GNSS integrated application.

4) Neotype antiaerial and ground detection means, influence of space and near-space environment on ground surface and their interactions.

Research objectives: to realize an all-in-one system integrating spatial information acquisition, transfer, processing and application. The remote sensing office, the physical entity of the OBCE Laboratory is made up by 35 personnel, including one academician, nine professors and one senior engineer at professor level. By research interests, it is divided into many subsidiary labs for ground observation and 3S integrated application, spatial information GIS engineering, microwave remote sensing, digital Earth, geographic information analysis and application, satellite navigation and application, digital mining integration, geographic information system software etc.

Currently, the OBCE Laboratory has one set of electrical prospecting apparatus (geophysical prospecting data collection system, V8-6R) produced by Phoenix Geophysics Ltd, one set of GPS-sync high-precision stable clock, GPS Receiver, 512Mb Removable Flash Memory, 96KHZ 24-bitADC perchanne, Magnetic Sensor Induction Coil for (0.1HZ-10KHZ) AMT, Sensor cable20m, cable for Porous pot Electrodes to V8, a reel of 300m; microwave network analyzer (N5230C), 10MHz-20GHz, double ports, applicable to the time domain analytical software of 13.5, 20, 40, 50GHz PNA-L, mechanical alignment 85054D, 85131F flexible cable, 1250-1744 adaptor, Agilent 85055-60006 air line, 85070E media probe set, material testing software 85071E; portable spectrometer (FS3350-2500), spectral resolution: 3nm from 350nm to 750nm, XXX from 1400nm to 2100nm; blade server (Hp BL460 G6), for each node: 2*2.26GHzCPU with 24G memory, hard disk 2*146GB, divided into nine nodes with an additional 3TB blade memory; video camera mobile platform (DZTZSYS-2), with stroke 1000mm/precision ≤μm; microwave dielectric constant measuring system of natural materials (incubator) (SETH-2-032V), from -60℃ to 150℃, length ≥50cm, width≥50cm and height ≥65cm.

In addition, the Beijing Key Laboratory of Spatial Information Integration and 3S Application also has large-sized outdoor UAV remote sensing calibration car, large-sized UAV integrated control command car for remote sensing experiment etc.

The Beijing Key Laboratory of Spatial Information Integration and 3S Application was recognized as research and practice center for "Aoxiang Plan" by Beijing Municipal Commission of Education in 2008, which aims to enable some excellent senior high school students to study in university laboratory earlier, participate in research learning and practice and develop their research interests, thus providing platform and reference for middle school teaching reform. This laboratory attaches importance to students' innovation and creativity. Professor or associate professor will be assigned to every student of "Aoxiang Plan" as mentor to help them study on remote sensing and geographic information system research. Combining disciplinary characteristic with individual interest, the laboratory will complete research subjects with exploration and innovation and provide students with chances to participate in scientific research activity. It encourages exploration-oriented learning method with problem-solving as the core by gradually transforming the way of learning.

Since 2008, this laboratory has cultivated 25 "Aoxiang Plan" students who successfully completed all courses and most of them are Outstanding Students. All mentors have acquired the credit of excellent teachers, and they make great contributions to the "Aoxiang Plan".

To encourage undergraduates to participate in the laboratory research work of the Department of Spatial Information Science and Technology, School of Earth and Space Sciences of Peking university and cultivate innovative talents, the Director Office Board of the Beijing Key Laboratory of Spatial Information Integration and 3S Application, according to the annual laboratory expenditure, has funded the undergraduate research program every year to encourage excellent undergraduates to complete the related subjects within one year since 2006. In every February and March, application for undergraduate fund is submitted for first selection and then second selection of presentation will be organized. Finally, 4-6 undergraduate programs will be funded. The selected programs will be concluded and reported in the next March, and the best project will be selected. In addition, students who published papers will get extra award from the laboratory's undergraduate open fund.

In 2010-2014, with an input of RMB72,000, the laboratory funded 25 undergraduate fund programs. Under the meticulous guidance of their mentors, these students, through one year's effort, have finished the anticipated tasks, attained the expected goal and published several pieces of related papers. More importantly, the undergraduate open fund provides undergraduate students with chances to take charge of or participate in the whole process of application, research and subject conclusion and report. Students will have a whole and deep impression on scientific research and improve their research and practice ability, which means a lot to the postgraduate research.

Summary

Since the School of Earth and Space Sciences of Peking University was set up, the aforementioned laboratory platforms have provided firm support for the School's teaching and research; however, most laboratories were built in 1990s and 80% instruments have operated for over 10-15 years, therefore they are in great need of replacement or upgrading due to obsolescence. At the same time, there are some shortages in equipment deployment, such as the U-Th-He dating system required in new neotectonics research, the stable isotope analysis system generally applied in geosciences research and large pressure controller and hydrothermal reactor used in high temperature and pressure research. The lack of such test means and laboratory space means short board for subject development, severely impeding the progress of technological innovation.