The Douro is Portugal’s second largest river basin and supports two strategic economic sectors: wine and tourism. As a hillside viticulture region, it faces issues of water availability and accessibility, erosion, and soil loss, which jeopardize the normal development (and survival) of vines. Viticulture depends on water availability, and climate change has made it a scarce resource, both due to rising temperatures and irregular rainfall distribution throughout the year, threatening the production of quality grapes. Irrigation can be used to address water scarcity. However, despite its usefulness, irrigation must be managed carefully so as not to endanger water resources and to complement other water stress management strategies. Decision-making in SYM is supported by data from the Geographic Information System (GIS-Vineyard), drone and satellite imagery, soil probes, sap flow sensors, and leaf water potential measurements. While effective, these methods are costly and time-consuming. The use of satellite imagery is an opportunity because it allows viticulturists to access information easily and at low cost. This action proposes carrying out trials in pilot plots, where currently used methods will be compared with spatial technologies proposed by AgroSpace, with the aim of improving water management methodologies, addressing low productivity, among other issues. The pilots will be located on SYM properties in the Douro, where long-term trials and various equipment are already installed. The results obtained will be extrapolated from the pilot plots to other plots, using the tools generated by the project. The knowledge acquired will be disseminated through Technical Pilot Open Days aimed at sector technicians, with visits to the plots.
