Coastal Viticultural Consultants, Inc. (CVC) provides geo-referenced, calibrated, 1.0 meter or 0.5 meter resolution, Green Biomass Index (GBI), multispectral imagery to our clientele. Our imagery partner has developed the industry’s strongest range of proprietary technology processes and products that are unrivaled for their calibration (for atmospherics), accuracy and consistency. This geo-referenced, multispectral imagery integrates their proprietary vegetation measurement technology.

Calibrated aerial imagery can be used to evaluate changes in vine vigor from season to season. Geo-referencing aerial imagery allows our clients to use the imagery as background maps for GPS data collected in the field by CVC, their own field personnel, consultants, wineries or grape buyers. The maps generated with the aerial imagery can be used as base maps or data layers in GIS software like ESRI’s ArcMap.

Green Biomass Index (GBI) technology is similar to a Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), however, GBI has a greater resolution at the upper end (full canopy) of the spectrum and NDVI is more prone to background interference (soil color, cover crops, etc.) at the lower end of the vegetative scales. A calibrated Green Biomass Index (GBI) is processed to remove the background noise caused by variation is soil brightness and to enhance sensitivity in biomass estimates. The result is a nearly linear vegetation index from a non-vegetative condition to a full canopy. These processes make GBI imagery more repeatable and a better tool for comparing vineyards from season to season.

Aerial Imagery applications in viticulture:

• Identifying, locating and quantifying variability in vineyard growth.
• Monitoring changes in vineyard growth patterns.
• Direction of soil, plant tissue and fruit sampling programs.
• Identifying and locating growth or vigor patterns that produce optimal fruit quality.
• Delineating fruit quality variability for more precise, directed fruit harvesting.
• Implementation of Precision Farming techniques and equipment.
• Improving efficiency by directing fertilizer and other inputs to specific areas within each vineyard.
• Direction of field crews or contractors to specific areas within the vineyard.