Comparative Assessment of Different Sensing Technologies for Mapping the Vineyard.

The aim of this study was the evaluation of proximal sensing and remote sensing tecnologies for monitoring and managing the variability within the vineyards. The devices used measure the electromagnetic energy (emitted, reflected or transmitted) of leaf surface subjected to different wavelengths (spectral signature). The proximal data were detected using ACS 210 sensor provided LED, Light Emitting Diode (an internal light active source), that emits an active pulsed light in red and near-IR bands and in real time was obtained NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) from reflectance values. For this work was prepared a mobile laboratory transported by a quad-vehicles 4x4, equipped with: GPS system, sensor for measure the reflectance of canopy in real-time, ultrasonic sensor for canopy thickness map, infrared sensor for measure temperature. Furthermore, we developed a special software and hardware to implement and acquire data in continuous. The remote data have been taken using DFR (Duncan – Flir – Riegl) sensors that acquire data in visible, near-IR and thermal bands. The system consist of GPS unit, GPS/INS unit, laser altimeter, thermal infrared camera, multispectral camera. These apparatus are combined in a single system of acquisition, flexible and configurable by the user. A system management software has been developed, which allows the acquisition by each sensor and the storage of position and attitude of the aircraft associated with the captured images, besides all the other accessory parameters. Synchronization between GPS and cameras is handled by TTL trigger signals. The NDVI generated from spectral bands provides information about vine biomass and plant vigor, however, is not unique item for vineyard evaluation. This research was conducted during 2011 in 17 portions of vineyards selected from three farms in the Chianti Classico DOCG area, on which were detected multispectral data by two methods and compared with vegetative and productive results; cultivar (Sangiovese), soil and canopy management was the same in all vineyards. Results show the possibility of the use of new technologies in the management of the vineyard, in the perspective of a reduction of imput and improved sustainability of production