An outline is given in this article regarding the theoretic basis, research targets and disciplinary content of remote-sensing information science or telemetry. The current booming remote-sensing development leads to a facelift in earth-related research programs, including fundamental changes in the research scope, objectives and methods of geo-science. Now the principles and means of observation and measurement derived from remote-sensing science are being applied to the development of the national economy, playing a leading role in the investigation of natural resources, monitoring and estimation of environmental quality, forecasting and reduction of natural calamities. Through an overview of the discipline’s developmental mainstream, this article stresses that messages on natural endowment and environmental situation constitute a data pool that is part of the national resources of strategic significance, and that the inauguration of a national resources & environmental information system (NREIS) is o
