Methodology and software for georeferencing vineyards

Abstract

An agricultural registry is a collection of information about production area and yield of agricultural properties in a region or designated area. It allows to measure agricultural production and its spatial distribution, characterize rural structure, facilitate inspection and development of agricultural policies, optimize distribution of agricultural credit, estimate crop yield and generate research data. A key component for a quality registry is accurate measurement of areas and their geographical position, through georeferencing, to allow integration with other spatial information. The Vineyard Registry of Rio Grande do Sul is one of the most complete agricultural registries in Brazil. It has been carried out in all grape producing properties in the state since 1995, and its georeferencing began in 2005, with the objective of accurately map vineyards. Embrapa has developed a methodology to accelerate georeferencing, by simplifying the field mapping process. One of the central points of this methodology was the development of a software called MapaGPS to organize and classify measured points in the field. Recently, this software has been improved, with the incorporation of features, such as transformation between coordinate systems, conversion between files of different formats, and more control over generated charts. The georeferencing experience of the Vineyard Registry of Rio Grande do Sul may be used throughout Brazil and other countries. The software is available under a free license, and there are no restrictions to adopting the methodology. This document aims to disclose details of this methodology and how it may be used to facilitate zoning projects worldwide.