During the 23rd World Congress of Soil Science (WCSS 2026), the scientific session Advances in Remote Sensing for Soil Property Mapping was successfully held on June 9. The session was co-convened by Research Professors Lu Miao and Yu Qiangyi from the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning (IARRP), Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Professor Sun Xiaolin from Guangxi University, and Research Professor Xie Xianli from the Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The session received more than 50 abstract submissions, with 14 oral presentations selected for the program. Researchers from over 10 countries and regions, including China, Australia, the United States, Canada, Germany, South Africa, Morocco, and Argentina, presented their latest findings on the application of remote sensing and proximal sensing technologies for soil property mapping.

The presentations covered the mapping of key soil properties, including soil organic matter, salinity, moisture, texture, pH, thermal diffusivity, and heavy metals, at scales ranging from individual fields to watersheds and regional landscapes. Speakers introduced a variety of advanced methods, including satellite-derived features, environmental covariates, meta-learning frameworks, multi-source data fusion, hyperspectral imaging, CYGNSS data, gamma-ray spectrometry, airborne sensing platforms, and geostatistical approaches. Poster presentations also showcased recent progress in proximal sensing, soil spectral libraries, and dynamic soil salinity monitoring.

Participants agreed that the integration of multi-source data and intelligent algorithms is significantly improving the accuracy and efficiency of soil property mapping. The session provided an important platform for international academic exchange and further strengthened collaboration in remote sensing and digital soil mapping, supporting global soil health research and sustainable agricultural development.