An optical remote sensing method for measuring the air pollutants (such as SO₂, NO₂) emitted from sources is studied by use of a hyperspectral imaging differential optical absorption spectroscopy (DOAS) instrument to scan the plume from pollution source on a scan table. The column density of air pollutant is retrieved from processing of the scattered sun light spectra collected by the instrument by means of the spectral analysis method of passive DOAS. Combing with the scan table during the measurement, the map of trace gases can be estimated. The hyperspectral imaging differential optical absorption spectroscopy system consisted of imaging DOAS spectrometer、UV lens and scan table is described in detail, which was carried to scan the plume from a fossil power plant in a field measurement. This technique provides a simple and quick method for imaging the air pollutants.