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High Resolution Vineyard Site 

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Suitability Mapping of Virginia
Suitability Mapping of Virginia
Progress Report for March 5, 2010
Progress Report for March 5, 2010

Prepared by Corienne Reisch, Undergraduate Research Assistant
Edited by Thomas Dickerson
Virginia Tech Center for Geospatial Information Technology
Estimated Percentages of Total Project 
Associated with Each Objective:

Project Objectives
Project Objectives
Estimated Completion 
Of Individual Objectives
1. Collect existing and new GIS data describing viticultural 
Complete
suitability, and develop statewide favorability/ suitability 
map layers based on the GIS data and expert judgment
map layers based on the GIS data and expert judgment.

2. Create a publicly‐accessible interactive GIS website where 
the public can view viticulturally relevant map layers and
the public can view viticulturally relevant map layers and  Complete

request educational, detailed reports of site 
characteristics and suitability analyses within a user‐
defined area of interest. 
All Remaining
3. Support the development of physically‐based American 
Viticultural Areas in Virginia.
Status of Objective 1
GIS Data Development and Analysis
Soil Parameters Derived from SSURGO Data
Soil Parameters Derived from SSURGO Data
Soil Texture Soil Bulk Density Completed:
Soil Drainage Soil Organic Matter Content Statewide Layers and 
Parent Material
Parent Material Available Water Capacity
Available Water Capacity Analyses Available for
Analyses Available for 
Soil Depth Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Viewing Online
Soil pH Overall Soil Favorability Score

pH Depth Drainage
GIS Development and Analysis
Soil Parameter Status
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Completed:
– Major Functionality of Soil Parameter Analysis and 
Viticultural Suitability Geoprocessing Tool
Viticultural Suitability Geoprocessing Tool
User‐Defined Area of Interest Vineyard Site Suitability Score

Total Score of 1 to 3
Total Score of 1 to 3 
calculated by quantitative 
analysis of 6 Soil Parameters
GIS Data Development and Analysis
Topographic Parameter Status
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• Complete:
– Statewide Aspect and Slope Layers 
St t id A t d Sl L
• Work Remaining:
– Reclassify Aspect and Slope Layers based on suitability
– Publish Layers to the Online Map Service
– Create Topographic Analysis Tool for web
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GIS Data Development and Analysis
Climate Parameters
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• Progress:
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– Scraped NOAA Websites using custom 
program to obtain the most accurate 
station locations
– Discovered that COOP weather stations 
are relocated occasionally, but effect on 
consistency of records is believed to be  Degrees, Minutes
minimal (based on NCDC comments)
minimal (based on NCDC comments)
Degrees, Minutes, Decimal Seconds

(scraping program)
GIS Data Development and Analysis
Climate Parameters
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• P
Progress
– Visual Basic macro created to calculate 
frequency of user‐defined temperature 
events (facilitates statistic generation for use in
events (facilitates statistic generation for use in 
mapping)

• Work Remaining
– Apply
Apply the aforementioned programs
the aforementioned programs’ results to 
results to
produce point statistics, and then interpolate 
point values to statewide surface for:
• Total precipitation August 1 – October 31
• e age G o g Seaso ec p tat o
Average Growing Season Precipitation
• Annual Frequency of ‐5˚ F events
• Average Length of Frost‐Free Season
• Frequency of 22°C or higher in September and 
October
• Average Temperature of the Growing Season
• Average Maximum Summer Temperature
– Create climate summary tool for website
Status of Objective 2
Web Map Creation
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• In Progress:
og ess:
– Soil Data Layers Accessible Online:
http://vmdev.cgit.vt.edu/Vineyards/

Special Map Interface Capabilities
– Control of Layer Properties
– Ability to Change Base Maps
– Ability to Add Map Services
Ability to Add Map Services
– Ability to Export to KML for use in Google Earth
(after additional troubleshooting)
(after additional troubleshooting)

Note: Web map is under development, and final result may differ substantially from the current example.
Status of Objective 2
Web Map Creation
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• Completed:
– Educational interpretation pages created for 
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website that explain the importance of various 
parameters to Viticulture (but not yet added to 
web interface)
– Conceptual Outline for Report Generation Tool
• Work Remaining
– Continue incorporating existing data, maps and 
tools into the web GIS for full functionality
Status of Objective 3
Development of Physically‐Based AVAs
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• Upon Completion of the Web Map:
– Expert collaboration and analysis of the 
Expert collaboration and analysis of the
Viticultural GIS will allow for the future 
establishment of physically‐based American 
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Viticultural Areas in Virginia
Supporting the Virginia Wine Board’s Vision 2015
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A Strategic Direction for the Virginia Wine Industry

Virginia’s Viticultural GIS will support the Industry as it seeks to:

• Improve the quality and uniqueness of Virginia wines by allowing for  increased specificity 
of site selection
• Enhance the image and reputation of Virginia wines and the Virginia wine industry through 
value‐added regional branding
• Increase and expand the market share of Virginia wine sold in state, national and
Increase and expand the market share of Virginia wine sold in state, national and 
international markets through the increased visibility provided by this user‐friendly online 
GIS
• Improve the profitability of vineyard and wine businesses in Virginia by providing vineyard 
developers with additional decision‐making tools
developers with additional decision‐making tools
• Maintain (enhance) Virginia's rural character and beauty through the expansion of Virginia's 
wine industry by providing an educational tool to remove perceived barriers to the 
establishment of new vineyards
Cori Wishes Special Thanks to
Cori Wishes Special Thanks to
The Virginia Wine Board
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Dr. Tony Wolf, State Viticulturist
John Boyer, Professor of Geography, Virginia Tech
Dr. Robert Tracy, Professor of Geosciences, Virginia Tech

Peter Sforza, Director of
Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology
Thomas Dickerson 
Virginia Tech’s Center for Geospatial Information Technology

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