Marlborough region benefits from air-borne technology

10 March, 2009

Utilising technology widely used in Australia to reduce vineyard variability, a large area of the Marlborough region was mapped in February and information captured using the latest digital imaging technology. The collection of Digital Multi Spectral Imaging (DMSI) data provides highly detailed information on plant density and health.

During the course of the day a large area of the Wairau Plain and surrounding valleys were flown, along with the Awatere Valley and parts of the Seddon area.  This data was collected by Specterra Services (Australia's leading provider of airborne sensing imagery) and Corbans Viticulture to provide some valuable information to the regions grape growers and wine makers.

Andrew Malcolm, Managing Director of Specterra Services Ltd said "We had a great day with the weather and collected a lot of data under near ideal conditions. This data will allow Marlborough grape growers to control variability more precisely, selectively harvest and also perform more accurate estimates of yield, which has to be of benefit in what is looking like another big volume year".

Utilising the latest digital imaging technology, cameras measure the on-ground reflectance across visible and near infra-red wavelengths.  The intensity of this reflectance in the wavelengths can be digitally compared to separate vegetation and inferences can be made on plant density, growth and health.   Variability in vigor across a block, vineyard, or area can be isolated. Issues with irrigation, or nutrients can be highlighted and corrected to reduce the variability. “The real benefits of collecting this information is over the longer term” says Dennis Lunken, CEO of Corbans Viticulture.” By acquiring this information, viticulturists can improve areas of poor vegetative health, improve vineyard management through amendments resulting in more productive vineyards”. Lunken is excited about the technology and the value it can provide. "This technology allows for more accurate yield sampling and predictions, which flows downstream to the planning of fruit arriving at the winery and also with the selection of areas of the vineyard with the highest quality.  This technology is used extensively in Australia and Chile and both countries have obtained yield predictions within 5-7% of the actual harvest. The information we gather this vintage will confirm if this degree of accuracy is viable in New Zealand conditions”.