He did his undergraduate studies in Mine Surveying at China University of Mining & Technology, Xuzhou, China (1984-1988). He received the M.S. degree and the Ph.D degree in Geomatics from China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing, China, in 1991 and 1997, respectively.
In 1991-2004, he worked at the Geo-informatics Department of China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), and holds the Vice-Head of the Geo-informatics Department. During this period he focused his researches on mining subsidence control, mine geographical information system and the application of thermal remote sensing, based on imaging detection experiments on rock loaded to fracturing, to the thermal anomaly of rock hazard and tectonic earthquake. In 2004-2007, he worked as Chang Jiang Scholar-Awarded Professor and the Head at the Institute of Geo-informatics & Digital Mine of Northeastern University, Shenyang, China. During this period he focused his researches on digital mine, multiple-sensors detection experiments on anomalous radiations (infrared, microwave, and spectrum) and acoustic emissions from loaded rock, and satellite remote sensing analysis on thermal anomaly related with tectonic earthquakes. From 2007 to present, he works as the Chief Professor of the Academy of Disaster Reduction and Emergency Management (ADREM), Ministry of Civil Affairs/Ministry of Education (Beijing Normal University), Beijing, China, and held the Head of the Institute of Spatial Information Science & Technology, ADREM. His current research interests include environmental remote sensing, earthquake remote sensing, disaster surveying & assessment, and global spatial information theory & methodology.
He is a member of the User Interface Committee (UIC) of the Group on Earth Observation (GEO), the former co-chair of IEEE GRSS-UARS, the current Liaison of GEO UIC and IEEE GRSS, a standing committee member of the China Association of Remote Sensing.