“streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics

Street view imagery (SVI) is an increasingly important data source for urban analytics and environmental researchers studying the visual quality of the built environment. Compared to remote sensing imagery, SVI can provide a different plane of perspective at ground level and better determine the int...

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Main Authors: Xiaohao Yang, Mark Lindquist, Derek Van Berkel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-02-01
Series:SoftwareX
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352711024003510
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author Xiaohao Yang
Mark Lindquist
Derek Van Berkel
author_facet Xiaohao Yang
Mark Lindquist
Derek Van Berkel
author_sort Xiaohao Yang
collection DOAJ
description Street view imagery (SVI) is an increasingly important data source for urban analytics and environmental researchers studying the visual quality of the built environment. Compared to remote sensing imagery, SVI can provide a different plane of perspective at ground level and better determine the interplay between urban physical settings and socio-ecological factors that enhance well-being and sustainability. Mapillary, a platform for volunteered street view imagery, has emerged as a promising alternative to Google Street View, offering greater accessibility. Nonetheless, the utility of this open-source database can be limited by the current Mapillary Application Programming Interface (API), which only partially meets the needs of urban analytics research. To address this, we introduce ''streetscape,'' an R package designed to provide user-friendly functions for collecting and analyzing street view imagery data from Mapillary. In addition, the package supports the generation of surveys for the qualitative study of urban landscapes.
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spelling doaj-art-c0ab1907355b4772a3ea57b5750ccb2c2025-08-20T03:11:33ZengElsevierSoftwareX2352-71102025-02-012910198110.1016/j.softx.2024.101981“streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analyticsXiaohao Yang0Mark Lindquist1Derek Van Berkel2Corresponding author.; School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, USASchool for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, USASchool for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, USAStreet view imagery (SVI) is an increasingly important data source for urban analytics and environmental researchers studying the visual quality of the built environment. Compared to remote sensing imagery, SVI can provide a different plane of perspective at ground level and better determine the interplay between urban physical settings and socio-ecological factors that enhance well-being and sustainability. Mapillary, a platform for volunteered street view imagery, has emerged as a promising alternative to Google Street View, offering greater accessibility. Nonetheless, the utility of this open-source database can be limited by the current Mapillary Application Programming Interface (API), which only partially meets the needs of urban analytics research. To address this, we introduce ''streetscape,'' an R package designed to provide user-friendly functions for collecting and analyzing street view imagery data from Mapillary. In addition, the package supports the generation of surveys for the qualitative study of urban landscapes.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352711024003510Urban analyticsStreet-level imageryUrban greeneryUrban landscapeUrban perceptionR package
spellingShingle Xiaohao Yang
Mark Lindquist
Derek Van Berkel
“streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
SoftwareX
Urban analytics
Street-level imagery
Urban greenery
Urban landscape
Urban perception
R package
title “streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
title_full “streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
title_fullStr “streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
title_full_unstemmed “streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
title_short “streetscape” package in R: A reproducible method for analyzing open-source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
title_sort streetscape package in r a reproducible method for analyzing open source street view datasets and facilitating research for urban analytics
topic Urban analytics
Street-level imagery
Urban greenery
Urban landscape
Urban perception
R package
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352711024003510
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