# Multimodal Remote Sensing Image Registration: A Comprehensive Review, Challenges and Prospects

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.11176 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2610.11176/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 5 of its 135 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 8 Oct 2026.

## Builds on (most cited first, 5 of 5)

- [Attention Is All You Need](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1706.03762/) (2017)
- [The QXS-SAROPT Dataset for Deep Learning in SAR-Optical Data Fusion](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2103.08259/) (2021)
- [RIFT2: Speeding-up RIFT with A New Rotation-Invariance Technique](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.00319/) (2023)
- [Hyperspectral and multispectral image fusion with arbitrary resolution through self-supervised representations](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2405.17818/) (2024)
- [OSDM-MReg: Multimodal Image Registration based One Step Diffusion Model](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2504.06027/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

Multimodal remote sensing image registration is a crucial prerequisite for the collaborative processing and downstream application of remote sensing data, such as image fusion, change detection, and target recognition. However, significant variations in radiometry, geometry, scale, viewpoint, and time often exist between multimodal images. These differences, driven by varying sensor geometries, physical radiation mechanisms, imaging platforms, and environmental disturbances, pose severe challenges to achieving high-precision, robust registration. This paper systematically reviews the progress of mainstream multimodal remote sensing image registration methods. Based on their registration pipelines, existing approaches are categorized into three main types: region-based, feature-based, and deep learning-based methods. We detail the core principles, representative algorithms, advantages, and limitations of each category. Additionally, we summarize publicly available multimodal image datasets in the remote sensing domain, analyzing their specific characteristics and applicable scenarios. Finally, we highlight current bottlenecks in high-precision registration research and outline future development trends. This review aims to provide a comprehensive reference and valuable insights for researchers in related fields.