Abstract: This paper introduces the principle of the LIF technique to measure the water concentration, temperature and velocity fields, summarizes the LIF technology development from 1D to 3D, reviews the key issues of LIF to measure the scalar field in water, including laser and light-sheet sources, fluorescence material selections and calibration methods, and finally reviews various correction methods of PLIF and 3DLIF. Based on the 3DLIF techniques, this paper proposes an overall technical scheme, technical route and overall technical indicators of 3DLIF instrument, and then provides solutions of 3DLIF key techniques to meet the demand of engineering and industrialization.