According to the spectral polarization properties of atmospheric radiation and ground object radiation, the polarization remote sensing has been developed as new ground-based, airborne, and spaceborne observation techniques to be applied to many scientific regions, such as the global climate variation investigation, earth remote sensing, and astronomical research. The development of optical polarization remote sensing system is introduced. With the different detection objectives, these polarimeters have their special polarization analytical mechanism and polarization information acquisition model. The polarization mechanics of interacting between the incident radiation and the substance is analyzed too. The experimental results of polarization detection in the visible and infrared wavebands are discussed. The application fundamental research of spectral polarization remote sensing information is described. The spectral polarization information helps to retrieve the properties of atmosphere, natural ground object, man-made object, and celestial body, respectively. At last, the advances of polarization optics, optoelectronics and computer technology are concerned. The application processes of advanced polarization measurement and polarization calibration applied to the optical polarization remote sensing system are emphasized. The trend in development of optical polarization remote sensing technique is predicted.