Image-based vineyard mapping has evolved from a research-oriented application to a well-accepted business practice in California, Australia, and New Zealand . . .

 

Why use image-based products?

Because grape growers both large and small (from a few acres to over 1000) have realized the ability of image-based products to improve the efficiency of vineyard management and increase profitability.

 

How are image-based products used to enhance vineyard management?

1. Imagery can be used to enhance yields through the identification of management problems whose extent is not fully evident from the ground

2. Imagery can be used to define sub-block harvest zones based on vine vigor. Vigor maps have been proven to identify increased acreage of grapes to be used for high-quality reserve wines in California

3. Multiple years of data can identify frequent or recurring problems to target crop scouting or monitoring of corrective measures already taken

4. Imagery is a useful aid for wind machine site selection

5. Image-based products provide a scale and perspective of the vineyard that almost always brings new information to the grower

Why use Environmental Geosolutions for your image-based needs? 

• we have a thorough knowledge of the grape and wine industry and the necessary image-based specifications (spatial detail, image timing, etc.) to best serve vineyard managers

• our mandate is to develop products and services based on geospatial data to improve the profitability of the agriculture sector

• we are not dedicated to a specific data provider or imagery type. This allows us more flexibility as we work to create the best products for our clients

• we have years of experience in project planning and user needs assessments for agriculture-related applications

• we have a vision for improved image-based mapping services to optimize the experience for the vineyard manager. This is due to: a) our thorough knowledge of the strengths and weaknesses of the existing image-based vineyard mapping industry, and b) our technical capabilities to develop and deliver improved products

PRODUCTS

Click on one of the links below to find out more information about our image-based products:

Vineyard Imagery

Airborne or satellite image data linked to a grower's block boundaries can be a very useful aid for a variety of applications, including planning of crop scouting efforts and identification of problem areas in the vineyard.

Vine Vigor Maps

Vine vigor maps are used to identify areas of variability within individual blocks - this information can be used to develop sub-block management zones and harvest increased acreage of high-quality grapes.

Other Value-Added Services

Environmental Geosolutions can provide a number of other services to vineyard managers, including change detection analysis and a wide variety of GIS-based map products.

DELIVERY OPTIONS

We are aware that growers have a wide range of technical expertise and individual vineyard management styles. Because of this, we offer a broad range of delivery options for our image-based products. Clients are welcome to use one or more of these delivery options, or can work with us to create a custom method that best suits their needs:

Hard Copy

Hard copies of our image-based products have many applications:

• they are a useful visual aid to have in the field (we can provide laminated hard copies if this is the intended use)

• it is often easier to do side-by-side comparisons of different years of imagery

• they can be framed and hung as attractive wall decor

Image Files

We can deliver files electronically through email or FTP in a variety of common formats such as TIFF and JPEG.

GIS Files

For clients that maintain their own GIS databases, we can provide image-based products in a variety of common GIS formats.

Google Earth KML/KMZ Files

As a means to access and manipulate geospatial data, Google Earth software has become a very popular tool with geospatial experts and non-experts alike. We are aware that a growing number of our vineyard clients are users of Google Earth, either for recreational use or possibly as a management aid. Given the popularity of the software, Environmental Geosolutions offers clients the ability to receive their image-based products in KML/KMZ file format for easy import into their personal copy of Google Earth.

PRICING

We are committed to delivering cost-effective products and services. We are confident that the investment our clients make in image-based products will be paid off many times over through the various benefits outlined above. Pricing for our image-based services is dependent on a number of factors:

• Imagery used (satellite vs. airborne, type of satellite)

• Level of services requested (for example, GIS database construction will cost more than simple vigor map generation)

• Vineyard Area

• Delivery Method

• Turn-around time required. We guarantee that imagery products will be delivered within ten days of the image date. However, more advanced GIS analyses will have to be negotiated according to the level of services required

To generate a quote, Environmental Geosolutions encourages prospective clients to contact us for a free consultation to discuss the specifics of their own vineyard.