Tracking Laborer Position in Grapevine Field Using Global Navigation Satellite System with Real-Time Kinematics

Highlights Working time of expert and beginner laborers is plotted on a grid map. Working time is estimated from the stationary time of the laborer’s position in each grid. Moving speed and distance are estimated according to the differences in latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height. Using an RTK-GNSS receiver is practical for evaluating the current work status of vineyards. Abstract. For efficient production in viticulture, labor management is crucial, as it helps to avoid labor shortages. Thus, to resolve the current labor shortage, it is important to understand the work status of vineyard laborers. In this study, to determine the work status in an experimental vineyard during harvesting, the working time of expert (5 years of experience) and beginner (3 months of experience) laborers and the harvesting location were drawn on a grid map (referred to as a working-time map). Using the Global Navigation Satellite Systems with real-time kinematics (RTK-GNSS) receiver, the working time was estimated from the stationary time of the laborer’s position in each grid recorded with a cycle of 1 Hz. The harvesting location was determined using the RTK-GNSS receiver. Moving speed and distance were estimated according to the differences in latitude, longitude, and ellipsoid height between the laborers’ positions in the vineyard. Thus, a working-time map, in which the color density in each grid varied according to the working time, was drawn. In contrast to the yield map, the working-time map can directly show the current work status. The moving speed and distance were higher and shorter, respectively, for the expert laborer than for the beginner laborer. This difference may have been caused by the beginner laborer having problems searching for grape clusters due to a lack of morphological knowledge of grapevines. The results indicate that using an RTK-GNSS receiver is practical for evaluating the current work status of vineyards. Keywords: Keywords.,Grid map, Harvesting, Moving distance, Moving speed, Vineyard.