Laser mapping – helpful, but not a game-changer

New laser mapping data released by Defra to help the English wine industry is helpful but unlikely to unearth “hidden gems”, a leading producer has said.

Frazer Thompson CEO of Chapel Down said the Light Retecting and Ranging (LIDAR) data released by Defra in September would give the industry additional tools to boost its scale and potential and potentially short-circuit some of the more labourious searches – but admitted it was unlikely to revolutionise the industry or unearth any “hidden gems”.

The data comes from the Environment Agency’s 3D laser mapping technology,  which builds a detailed typographical map. Originally used by the agency to analyse land use and plan flood defences, the archive has been build over the past 17 year and now covers more than 70% of the England. It was released as part of the Open Defra project to make data more freely available and is the first in a tranche of information Defra intends to release.

“When it comes to new land, the Defra data is fantastic,” Thompson told db. “Any help we can get to gather more research and reduce the risk will be helpful. The industry has moved significantly from being opportunistic and using land because it was available and suitable, as that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect place.”

“Any information can help, and in any site assessment you need as much information as you can, but you have to see it yourself, visit it and understand the soil,” he said. “But from the industry point-of-view it is not the most important thing ever to happen, as we now know what works and how to apply that knowledge.”

He added that the LIDAR technology was unlikely to unearth any “unknown gems” as the geology of the UK was already very well-known. But he noted that if global warming continued, in 15-20 years it would be possible to use the data to reasses areas not currently considered for wine production due to their cooler temperatures, such as the Chilterns and Mendips.

The LIDAR archive is the first in a tranche of information Defra intends to release, with further information on soil chemistry, ground water measurement, water supplies and localised microclimates planned.

English Wine Producers’ Julia Tristram-Eve said Defra was working with the English and Welsh wine industry to identify more information already held by government that could be beneficial to the industry.

“There is still work to do to identify the key data that would be useful and find key areas – is it not just down to laser mapping,” she told db. “It won’t necessarily paint the whole picture, but it might help in part and be beneficial.”

“But is is an encouraging first step and it is good to have a government department recognising what the industry has already achieved and being prepared to support it.”

Sam Linter of Bolney Wine Estates said it could be used in a very forward-thinking way when planning land use, to identify prime land for vineyards. “It would be dreadful to have a prime site for a vineyard and then have a housing estate built on it,” she said.

Speaking at a recent visit to Bolney Wine Estates, Defra minister Elizabeth Truss said the LIDAR data would help growers identify new land to grow “more and better quality grapes”, by giving growers a better understand of the small variations in slopes and the aspect of their land.

Sir Philip Dilley, Chairman of the Environment Agency, added that the data could provide “vital” insights into the terrain, but identifying ‘frost hollows’ and badly-drained areas that might prove problematic for the vines.