bwimage: A package to describe image patterns in natural structures

Abstract

Currently R is the most popular software for data analyses among biologists. Here, we present bwimage, a package designed to describe patterns from black and white images. The package can be used for a wide range of applications. We implemented functions previously described in the literature to calculate parameters designed originally, but not exclusively, for vegetation structures. Additionally, we propose a new parameter: the aggregation index. We demonstrate applications for field work, providing examples that range from calculation of canopy openness, description of patterns in vertical vegetation structure, to patterns in bird nest structure. We provide advice and illustrated examples of how to produce high quality images for analyses.

Guy next door and implausibly attractive young women: The visual frames of social media propaganda

“…We triangulated the visual inspection of the data with quantitative processing of the images using the bwimage R package (Biagolini and Macedo, 2019). This approach allowed us to identify the extent to which the average distribution of colors in each of the five groups is less than or equal to the threshold.…”

“…We further inspected the images by relying on the bwimage R package (Biagolini and Macedo, 2019) to identify patterns in the groups of profile images. The package analyzes digital images as cells holding information about the intensity of color channels red, green, blue, and alpha (representing transparency).…”