Modelling Management Practices in Viticulture while Considering Resource Limitations: The Dhivine Model
Many farming system studies have investigated the design and evaluation of crop management practices with respect to economic performance and reduction in environmental impacts. In contrast, little research has been devoted to analysing these practices in terms of matching the recurrent context dependent demand for resources (labour in particular) with those available on the farm. This paper presents Dhivine, a simulation model of operational management of grape production at the vineyard scale. Particular attention focuses on representing a flexible plan, which organises activities temporally, the resources available to the vineyard manager and the process of scheduling and executing the activities. The model relies on a generic production system ontology used in several agricultural production domains. The types of investigations that the model supports are briefly illustrated. The enhanced realism of the production management situations simulated makes it possible to examine and understand properties of resource constrained work organisation strategies and possibilities for improving them.
PloS one