Sub-Block Management Zone Definition

Growers in California and Australia are taking advantage of imagery’s ability to identify increased acres of reserve-quality grapes, and thus have greatly increased their profits. This is due to vine vigor values that are highly correlated with several parameters used to assess grape quality. NDVI vine vigor maps are used on an annual basis to identify sub-block management zones and guide the selective harvesting of grapes.

Environmental Geosolutions understands that vineyard management styles are highly personal, and therefore a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to sub-block zoning is not applicable. We will work closely with our clients to create a sub-block management strategy that works best for that particular vineyard. Several factors will be taken into consideration:

• The harvesting methods that are used at the vineyard

• The grape varieties that are planted in the vineyard

• The minimum area that a vineyard manager is willing to selectively harvest

• The desired shape of sub-block zones to maintain harvest efficiency (for example, some growers prefer to maintain rectangular zones only)

Change Detection Analysis

Many growers budget for imagery products as one of their necessary management tools on an annual basis. This is due to one of the most beneficial aspects of imagery: the detection of vine growth changes. Change can be detected from a time sequence of images over multiple years for the same vineyard. The analysis of a time series of data can reveal vineyard changes or patterns that would not be apparent in a single image or from the ground. It is the detection of vine growth changes and patterns that many growers have found to be one of the most beneficial aspects of imagery.

Environmental Geosolutions has years of agriculture-oriented experience in assessing vegetation change and pattern recognition. Our change detection assessments are converted to useful output products that can be delivered to our clients in a number of formats.

Additional GIS Services

In addition to the processing and analysis of imagery, Environmental Geosolutions is also a provider of GIS services. GIS (geographic information systems) are computer software products that store geo-referenced spatial data and allow for advanced analysis and display capabilities. Some of the GIS services that we provide to vineyard clients include: 

• Digital mapping of block boundaries

• Development of GIS databases containing block-level management information (e.g. variety, planting date, vine count, harvest dates, yield, etc.)

• Conversion of a grower’s existing vineyard information (soil maps, soil moisture, weather machine sites) into a GIS format. These additional GIS datasets can provide critical context to the image-based maps of vine vigor