Airborne hyperspectral imaging is a fast and non-destructive detection technology, which has the characteristics of high spectral resolution, narrow and multiple bands and combination of spectrum and images. Domestic miniaturized airborne hyperspectral imagers mainly rely on importing, which are expensive. Moreover, it is difficult to import high-performance hyperspectral equipment, which restricts the promotion and popularization of hyperspectral technology in China. With the support of the national major instrument development project and the national key research and development plan, Nanjing Center for China Geological Survey successfully developed the light airborne hyperspectral imaging system SSMap with the push-broom miniaturized imaging spectrometer HMS400/1000 as the core components, and established the airborne hyperspectral remote sensing comprehensive survey technology methods and operation process, as well as formed a set of reliable ground object classification methods and spectrum quantitative inversion models of water and soil pollution. Based on the introduction of the basic principle of airborne hyperspectral imaging technology and the analysis of research status at home and abroad, taking the self-developed airborne hyperspectral imaging system SSMap as an example, combined with the requirements of the ecological environment in the Yangtze River Economic Belt, the operation methods, information extraction and investigation application of aerial hyperspectral remote sensing covering an area of 4500 km² are discussed in detail. Through the demonstration of eco-environmental geological survey in Jiangsu, Anhui, Zhejiang and other regions of the Yangtze River Economic Belt, high quality airborne remote sensing data has been obtained, and a number of important survey results have been obtained. The results show that airborne hyperspectral imaging technology has broad application prospects in ecological environment investigation, water monitoring, land use and land quality evaluation. The home-made airborne hyperspectral imager with independent intellectual property rights reduces the procurement cost, promotes the popularization of airborne hyperspectral technology, serves the national major regional development strategy, and has significant economic and social benefits.