NDVI Crop Health Mapping for Vineyard Management

Project Overview Swan Aerial Services partnered with a Great Southern winery to deliver pre-veraison NDVI imaging, providing a clear snapshot of vine health and variability at a critical stage of the growing season. At pre-veraison, decisions around irrigation, nutrition, and canopy management have a direct impact on fruit quality and yield. The aim was to equip the vineyard manager with accurate, block-wide insight to support timely and targeted decisions. Client Objective The vineyard manager wanted to: Identify variability in vine vigour before veraison Detect early signs of stress across blocks Improve targeting of irrigation and nutrient inputs Drive more uniform ripening and fruit quality Solution Delivered We conducted a high-resolution NDVI survey across the vineyard at the pre-veraison stage, producing detailed vegetation maps that highlight differences in vine performance. Data was captured using a MicaSense RedEdge-P multispectral sensor, delivering high-quality, repeatable NDVI outputs suitable for vineyard-scale decision making. Deliverables included: NDVI vigour maps across all vineyard blocks Clear identification of low, medium, and high vigour zones Target areas for ground inspection and intervention Data outputs suitable for integration into existing farm workflows The outputs were designed to be practical, easy to interpret, and immediately usable in the field. How the Data Was Used The vineyard team is using the data to: Ground-truth weaker zones prior to veraison Adjust irrigation in response to vine stress Fine-tune nutrient application Manage canopy variability across blocks Prioritise areas requiring attention before ripening begins Outcome / Value to the Vineyard Early intervention before stress impacts fruit quality Improved uniformity across vineyard blocks More efficient use of water and inputs Better control over vine performance heading into ripening Stronger decision-making at a critical growth stage Why Pre-Veraison Mapping Matters Pre-veraison is one of the most valuable windows for vineyard assessment. Variability identified at this stage can still be addressed before it directly affects fruit development and harvest outcomes. NDVI mapping provides a whole-of-block view, allowing managers to act early rather than react later in the season. Seasonal Service Opportunity This project forms part of a repeatable seasonal monitoring approach, where vineyards can be mapped at key growth stages, such as: Early season establishment Pre-veraison (current project) Pre-harvest By comparing datasets over time, vineyard managers can: Track performance trends across seasons Measure the effectiveness of interventions Continuously refine management strategies To support this, all data capture is conducted using sun reflectance calibration, ensuring NDVI outputs are consistent and comparable between flights—regardless of changing light conditions. This allows each dataset to be reliably used to monitor change over time, rather than acting as a one-off snapshot. Challenges & Approach Challenge: Subtle variability not visible from ground level Approach: NDVI mapping to highlight vine vigour differences across entire blocks Challenge: Narrow decision-making window before veraison Approach: Rapid data capture and delivery for timely action Key Takeaway Pre-veraison NDVI mapping gives vineyard managers the visibility they need at the right time—supporting targeted decisions that improve consistency, optimise inputs, and protect fruit quality heading into harvest.