This RSNZ Marsden-funded project is developing the world's first sensor-based system that integrates behavioural, environmental, and experiential data to understand and improve daily time use for wellbeing. The research team is combining wearable sensors, GPS receivers, and real-time smartphone surveys to capture detailed data on people's daily activities and emotional states. By applying compositional data analysis and artificial intelligence, the project aims to identify which combinations of behaviours and environments best support wellbeing—both for individuals and for diverse communities.
The system will generate personalised time-use recommendations and deliver targeted prompts via mobile devices, helping users adopt small, meaningful changes to enhance their wellbeing. A key focus is ensuring cultural relevance, with specific measures and insights developed in partnership with Māori researchers and communities. Ultimately, this open-source framework will allow researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to better understand how our daily routines shape our health, and how to intervene in ways that are tailored, effective, and equitable.