GreenEx-R: Developing opensource prototype packages to model multidimensional nature exposure

Abstract

Systematic reviews show that exposure to greenspaces has a beneficial effect on physical and mental health and well-being. Greenspace exposure is commonly categorised into three core principles; availability, accessibility, and visibility. Although the significance of greenspace exposure is widely acknowledged, concerns arise regarding the quality and comparability of studies within this field. This article proposes the open-source R package GreenExp to overcome these concerns. GreenExp is developed to facilitate robust and transparent analysis in greenspace and health research. It provides researchers with a collection of functionalities that can be applied across multiple countries, enabling comprehensive spatial analysis and enhancing the accuracy of results. The software architecture of the functionalities in GreenExp follows a logical flow encompassing five key components: Data Acquisition, Data Processing, Modelling, Visualisation, and Interface. Green- Exp offers comprehensive functionalities focused on availability, accessibility, and visibility. Each subject encompasses a range of specific functionalities that contribute to analysing greenspaces. GreenExp is a robust, transparent package that adheres to the FAIR(4RS) principles. GreenExp is a solid foundation for enhancing the quality of research in this field.