Since 1950s, Jin Chen has done a series of pioneering work and published more than 400 papers at home and abroad. Editor-in-chief of more than 20 large-scale atlases such as Topographic Aviation Atlas of China (1954) and Geoscience Analysis Atlas of China Landsat Images (Chinese and English versions, 1984, 1986), and published Geoscience Exploration (1990-656). 1993), geo-information science and regional sustainable development (1995), remote sensing geoscience analysis, etc. , and edited the dictionary of remote sensing, China geoscience events and other reference books.

In the early 1960s, he designed and participated in the compilation of Atlas of People's Republic of China (PRC). From 65438 to 0972, he led the development of a new field of computer-aided thematic mapping, which laid the foundation for the birth and vigorous development of GIS in China.

1958, he pioneered the application of remote sensing in China. 1963, the comprehensive series mapping experiment of aerial photographs was carried out; 1975 was the first to introduce American resource satellite images; 65438-0978, presided over the research work of resource remote sensing (Tengchong, Yunnan), environmental remote sensing (Tianjin) and energy remote sensing (Ertan); 1985, responsible for the preparation of the State Key Laboratory of Resources and Environmental Information System; 65438-0994, studying the geological characteristics of remote sensing information, the principle of high-resolution remote sensing information processing and object recognition, the mechanism of microwave remote sensing information processing and object imaging, and the propagation law of remote sensing information in media. In 1990s, he actively advocated the development of geo-information science.

He advocated studying information flow and its regulating effect on logistics and energy flow in the internal and external circulation of the system based on earth system science, making full use of modern earth observation and information analysis, processing and transmission tools such as remote sensing, so as to make them penetrate and graft each other, form a geoscience information science and technology system, and explore the regional differentiation law of global change and regional sustainable development model to meet the urgent needs of resources, energy conservation and ecological environment protection.