Author(s):
Adam J. Mathews* - Binghamton University
Abstract:
The use of geographic techniques such as GIS and remote sensing in (1) identifying, (2) inventorying and assessing, and (3) predicting future agricultural sites is becoming more and more important to farmers and land-owners around the globe. The Finger Lakes Region of New York State is well-known for its grape cultivation and the production of fine wines. This study uses the spectral characteristics of the vineyard areas in New York State using 2-foot resolution aerial imagery to differentiate them from surrounding land uses via band calculations, layer stacking, and supervised classification. Consequently, where vineyards are found they can be inventoried and their characteristics summarized. Because many physical characteristics contribute to the suitability of the region for vineyards, the slope, aspect, distance from the lake, soil type, and more are employed in the analysis. The assessment of these characteristics across the study area helps explain why vineyards are located where they are and possible areas for additional vineyards. For temporal changes in the grape crop, Landsat 30-meter resolution satellite imagery and the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) are used to monitor leaf-area changes of the vineyard. Analytically combining the outcomes of the physical characteristics of the region and seasonal data from vineyards identifies potential areas of expansion of viticulture in the Finger Lakes Region.
