Conceptual Outline

In this spatial analysis, the potential for viticulture in the GVRD is examined. While is it known that the Fraser Valley supports some viticulture, the area under analysis is further North and therefore has fewer advantages for grape crops due to its cooler climates. There are some grapes that are able to survive in this cooler climate, which include the grapes under analysis; V. vinifera, V. riparia, and V. labrusca. As there are three potential grapes suitable to our climate, this spatial analysis looks at which wine grape species would be the most profitable to produce my measuring the area of suitability in the GVRD.

Through the use of IDRISI, constraints and factors for each individual species will be reviewed and used to define an area that is suitable in the GVRD for viticulture. Some of the factors and constraints will be the same for each species because there are certain properties of wine grapes that can adhere to all species. The factors and constraints are listed below:

Factors that adhere to all species of grapes:

Constraints that adhere to all species of grapes:

As noted above, there are also constraints and factors that are different for each grape species due to their defining characteristics and requirements from the environment. These are:

Dependant factors

Dependant constraints

These factors and constraints will be used in the IDRISI module Decision Wizard, which uses MCE (multi-criteria evaluation), to define a suitability index for each grape species. Each factor and constraint will be weighted according to their effect on the sustainability of each species. After a suitability map is produced, the area will be calculated for the most suitable land using the module Area. The results from the Area module will provide an answer as to which species has the highest potential for sustainable viticulture in the GVRD.