NDVI Mapping and Precision Viticulture by Drone

Vines do not suffer uniformly. Within a single plot, variations in soil type, slope, aspect and cropping history create vigour heterogeneity that only precise mapping can reveal. Drones equipped with multispectral sensors produce vegetation index maps (NDVI) that transform these invisible variations into actionable data, plant by plant.

What is the NDVI index?

NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) is an index calculated from the reflectance of vegetation in the near-infrared and visible red bands. A healthy plant strongly absorbs red light (photosynthesis) and strongly reflects near-infrared (water content and biomass). Their ratio produces an index between -1 and +1: the higher the value, the denser and more vigorous the vegetation.

Applied to viticulture, NDVI maps reveal:

• High-vigour zones — often over-productive vines likely to yield diluted fruit
• Low-vigour zones — stressed vines lacking water, nutrients or showing root problems
• Homogeneous vigour zones — sectors where standard management practices are well-calibrated

This vigour map becomes the foundation of precision viticulture: modulating inputs and interventions according to the actual potential of each zone.

Practical applications in viticulture

Green harvest

Green harvest — the ablation of excess grape clusters to concentrate matter on the remaining fruit — is a labour-intensive operation. Applying it uniformly across an entire plot is often a mistake: some zones don't need it, others would benefit from more.

An NDVI map produced in June-July guides teams towards zones with excessive yield potential. Work is targeted where it genuinely adds value.

Irrigation management

For vineyards fitted with drip irrigation systems, an NDVI map during summer identifies sectors experiencing early water stress. Water inputs can be modulated zone by zone rather than applied uniformly, conserving water resources and avoiding over-irrigation in naturally less stressed areas.

Differential treatment decisions

Vegetative vigour directly influences susceptibility to fungal diseases (downy mildew, powdery mildew). High-vigour zones, with denser canopies and reduced airflow, are more exposed. The NDVI map anticipates these risk zones and allows treatment rates to be modulated according to each sector's actual vigour profile.

Parcellary zoning for selective harvesting

Beyond agronomy, vigour mapping helps constitute homogeneous vinification lots. By harvesting zones of different vigour separately, the winemaker obtains lots with distinct aromatic and analytical profiles — the basis for a parcel-level tasting or a reasoned parcel selection.

Acquisition protocol

An NDVI mapping mission in viticulture runs in two phases:

1. Mapping flight — the drone surveys the plot at constant altitude with a multispectral sensor, simultaneously capturing multiple spectral bands (red, red-edge, near-infrared). A 5-hectare plot takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes to survey.
2. Processing and delivery — image assembly by photogrammetry, NDVI index calculation, automatic zoning and colourimetric map production. The report is delivered within 48 to 72 hours with raster files compatible with GIS tools (QGIS, ArcGIS) or viticultural management software.

Optimal period: the most informative maps are produced during active vegetation, between mid-May and mid-August. Monthly monitoring over this period reveals vigour dynamics and the vine's response to interventions.

Relevance for the Loire Valley vineyard

The Loire Valley wine region — appellations Pouilly-Fumé, Sancerre, Menetou-Salon, Reuilly, Quincy — rests on complex, fragmented terroirs. Flint, Kimmeridgian limestone, chalk, oyster limestone: geological diversity creates significant vigour heterogeneity within a single plot, sometimes over just a few dozen metres.

On these high-quality terroirs, drone mapping is a valuable knowledge tool for winegrowers seeking to understand and express each plot in its singular character.

Our field approach

Our viticulture missions are carried out with the DJI Matrice 4TD in multispectral configuration. We work directly with winegrowers or viticultural technicians to calibrate vigour thresholds and co-interpret maps in the agro-viticultural context of each estate.

We offer seasonal monitoring packages with three to four surveys over the vegetative season, tracking vigour evolution and the impact of interventions carried out.