The 3D scanner for measuring body surface area: a simplified calculation in the Chinese adult

Three-dimensional (3D) surface anthropometry enables us to extend the study to 3D geometry and morphology of mainly external human body tissues. A model is presented for estimation of human body surface area (BSA), which is identical in form to the one proposed in 1916 by DuBois and DuBois is presented. The purpose of this study is to measure BSA, using 3D scanner, and to derive a simple BSA estimation formula for the Chinese adults. In as little as 12s, the Chang Gung Whole-Body Scanner (CGWBS) allows you to capture the shape of the entire human body. The total error in BSA measurement due to scanning measurement and software computational error is less than 1%. The 3D anthropometric measures in a healthy population (n=3951) were investigated, and the results were used to derive a BSA estimation formula. The results seem to be comparable to previous data that measured BSA using traditional methods. The BSA estimation model of this study also validated using 300 new measurements along with the formulae proposed in previous researches. The result suggests that our formula better fits our adults.     

Research on lower body shape of late pregnant women in Shanghai area of China

Anthropometric data, especially the data of lower body of late-pregnant women, has become an immediate need for ergonomic design of maternity products, such as clothing, related motherhood supplies, maternity support products, and so on. So 55 late pregnant women in Shanghai area of China were randomly selected for this lower body shape research. By anthropometric measurement method 18 dimensions were measured to characterize lower body shape of late pregnant women. Mean values, standard deviations (SD), coefficients of variation, and percentiles for each variable were estimated. It was found that the morphology of hip and abdomen mostly influenced the lower body shape. Then according to the characters of hip and abdomen, the late pregnant women's lower body shapes were divided into two types. Moreover this paper also analyzed the change trend of lower body shape along late pregnancy months (7 to 9th months). As a result of this research, the late pregnant women's lower body shapes were described from different aspects which were thought to provide a guide for the maternity products design.Relevance to industryThe anthropometric data is essential to design reasonable and professional maternity products for late pregnant women, such as maternity support products, maternity clothing and so on. Especially this study can benefit the maternity garment industry. Moreover utilization of the anthropometric data, product designers would be able to outfit to a wider range of target users.     

Development of anthropometric data for Bangladeshi male population

An anthropometric study of a group of people is important when designing ergonomic products and workstations for that group. This study surveys the anthropometric dimensions of the Bangladeshi male population between the ages of 15 and 64 years to compare these dimensions with male anthropometrics for different countries available in the literature.     

Segment inertial parameters of Korean adults estimated from three-dimensional body laser scan data

In this study, body segment parameters of Korean adults were estimated using the three-dimensional (3D) body scan data from the SizeKorea database. Mass-inertial parameters and segment dimensions of 40 male subjects and 40 female subjects (18-59 years old) were estimated using a 16-segment model under the assumption that each segment has a constant density distribution after reconstructing the scan data. Therefore, several sets of linear regression functions based on gender, stature, and weight were established, which provided a convenient method for estimating body segment parameters of Korean adults. The obtained mass ratios of body segments were compared with those for Russians reported by Zatsiorsky and Seluyanov (1983) and for those for Chinese and Germans reported by Shan and Bohn (2003), in which the same 16-segment model was used. In addition, the results were compared with the Korean data results reported by [Jung, 1993] and [Lim, 1994], and Park et al. (1999). These comparisons revealed that Asians have larger head mass ratios and smaller lower limb mass ratios than Caucasians, while the differences in the head mass ratios between males and females from the same ethnic groups were not significant. Females were found to have larger mass ratios for the lower torso and smaller mass ratios for the upper torso, middle torso, upper arm, forearm, foot, and hand, as compared to males from the same ethnic groups. In addition, the data obtained by different researchers were compared, thereby showing high reproducibility of our method.

Relevance to industry

The obtained segment parameters can be used to define digital human models and applied to the fields of ergonomics and biomechanics, such as for workspace design, furniture design, vehicle interior design, and human movement analysis.     

Anthropometry of the Singaporean and Indonesian populations

This research collected anthropometric data of the Singaporean and Indonesian populations. The data were mainly from university students. In total, 245 male and 132 female subjects from Indonesia and 206 male and 109 female subjects from Singapore were measured. The Singapore data were divided into three sub-groups, comprising Singapore overall, Singapore citizens, and the Chinese ethnic sub-group. The Indonesians data were divided into two sub-groups, comprising Indonesia citizens and Indonesia Chinese. This study used 36 measurement dimensions. The authors made a comparison with previous anthropometric data collected in 1990 of over a thousand Singaporeans.The main contributions of this study are: i) an updated anthropometric database of Singaporeans and Indonesians, ii) a comparison of the two samples obtained, and iii) a projection of dimensional changes over time from comparing past to more recent anthropometric data. Statistical analyses show that Singaporeans (both male and female) tend to have larger dimensions than Indonesians in general. In addition, the data reveal the current sample to be significantly larger on more than 50 percent of the dimensions measured, for both males and females.In providing instances of possible application, the Body Mass Index (BMI) of all sub-groups was calculated. The results show both samples to have normal indexes with BMIs in the range of 18.5–25.0. This paper presents also an empirical estimation of unknown anthropometric characteristics using the Ratio Scaling Method. The purpose is to estimate uncollected anthropometric data based on a given scaling dimension. Overall, the reported anthropometric data and analyses can be used as relevant consideration in product and systems design.

Relevance to industry

The findings of this study indicate differences between Singaporean and Indonesian anthropometry in the citizen and Chinese sub-groups. The utilization of an updated anthropometric database that incorporates geographical origin and ethnic group is useful. Product designers would be able to cater to a wider range of target users.     

HUMAN FACTORS IN MACHINE CONTROL

The aim of this cadaver analyses study was to provide regression models for the prediction of major tissue components of the human body. Altogether 182 anthropometric measurements were taken bilaterally on six cadavers (3 male, 3 female). The cadavers were segmented by severance through soft tissue only and gross segments weighted in both air and water. Each limb segment was then fractionated into four components—skin, adipose tissue, muscle and bone—and each component was also weighed in both air and water. Regression equations were developed for the prediction of total segment masses from anthropometry and the prediction of intra-segmental tissue component masses from anthropometry. Weight, volume, density and percentage of body weight are given for 14 body segments and are compared with 19th and 20th century cadaver data. Ten regression equations were generated for the prediction of segmental masses and per segment the major issue components generated a total of 24 regressions.     

An approach to estimate body dimensions through constant body ratio benchmarks

Building a new anthropometric database is a difficult and costly job that requires considerable manpower and time. However, most designers and engineers do not know how to convert old anthropometric data into applicable new data with minimal errors and costs (Wang et al., 1999). To simplify the process of converting old anthropometric data into useful new data, this study analyzed the available data in paired body dimensions in an attempt to determine constant body ratio (CBR) benchmarks that are independent of gender and age. In total, 483 CBR benchmarks were identified and verified from 35,245 ratios analyzed. Additionally, 197 estimation formulae, taking as inputs 19 easily measured body dimensions, were built using 483 CBR benchmarks. Based on the results for 30 recruited participants, this study determined that the described approach is more accurate and cost-effective than alternative techniques.     

Errors of visual judgement in precision measurements

Abstract

Measurement is one of the most widely practiced social activities of people, and in many instances, measurements are made manually by individuals. On the other hand, automation of measurement has made rapid progress in recent years, but is not always advantageous. For example, even automatic measuring instruments are calibrated manually in many instances, and manual calibration will still be needed in the future. One of the problems to be considered in conjunction with manual measurement is error in measurement, especially personal error, which varies in degree according to the individual.

This paper is concerned with the causes of personal error in precision measurements which require strict control of errors, especially those of measurements involving visual judgements by observers of measuring instruments. What is called visual judgement can be divided into (i) judgement by the presence or absence of a stimulus, (ii) judgement by the intensity of the stimulus and (iii) judgement by comparison of the stimulus; we have conducted experiments on measurements involving these three. The results show that in case (i) where judgement relies on the coincidence between the corner of the image and the reference line, individual differences in visual ability are reflected in personal error, and the simpler the visual ability required for judgement, the smaller the degree of personal error in measurement; in the case of (ii)where judgement relies on the observation of outline of the pattern, i.e. judgement through the measurement of the dimensions of an indistinct image, the standards of the judgement of the observer is reflected in personal error; and in the case of (iii), where judgement relies on the visual interpolation of distance between two scale lines, the optical illusion of distance between the lines causes personal error.     

Cardiorespiratory and efficiency responses during arm and leg exercises with spontaneously chosen crank and pedal rates

The aim of this study was to compare the cardiorespiratory and efficiency responses between upper (T_UBE) and lower (T_LBE) body exercises at the same relative power outputs and with spontaneously chosen crank (SCCR) or pedal (SCPR) rates. Twelve participants performed exercise bouts set at 20, 40, 60 and 80% of maximal power (MP) separated by passive recovery periods. Oxygen uptake, ventilation, gross and work efficiencies during T_LBE were significantly (P < 0.05) higher than during T_UBE. These results suggest that these responses were not directly related to the relative intensities. However, no significant difference was found for delta efficiency and heart rate values. During T_UBE and T_LBE, gross efficiency increased significantly (P < of MP for T_UBE and T_LBE and the same SCCR and SCPR could explain these results. The present results confirm that the cardiorespiratory and efficiency responses between arm and leg exercises are not always similar, although the power output are normalized in relation to MP and add to the understanding of differences between upper and lower body.     

基于尺寸建立个性化人体模型的方法

近年来,人体模型定制已成为计算机图形学领域的重要研究课题之一。文中提出一种基于少量人体尺寸生成个性化人体模型的方法——分块优化法。首先,根据MPI人体扫描模型数据库获得人体外形形变参数与尺寸参数,采用线性相关分析方法实现由若干尺寸恢复完整人体尺寸集。其次,通过参数优化的线性回归方法分析各部位三维人体外形参数与二维尺寸数据之间的关系,并根据输入尺寸对人体模型进行进一步精调。实验表明,上述方法能够生成准确反映人体外形的人体模型。     

Anthropometric study of Algerian farmers

An anthropometric study of Algerian date-palm farmers was carried out. Thirty-six body dimensions were measured. Mean, variation measures, percentiles, 4 indices, and correlation coefficients between body dimensions were calculated. Effects of age were studied. Data of Algerian farmers and farmers from both developed and developing countries are compared. Body dimensions results were presented in one table so that they can easily be used by designers. It has been found that both stature and weight correlated significantly with many body dimensions. In addition, age was found to affect body height and weight. Moreover, it was found that stature and weight have increased with time. These days farmers are taller and heavier than farmers of the 1960s. Algerian farmers are also taller and heavier than farmers of many developing countries. However, when Algerians are compared with the farmers of developed countries, they are shorter and lighter.

Relevance to industry

The physical dimensions of the workplace are very important because small changes can have a considerable impact on worker health, safety, and productivity. Therefore, this study was completed to provide anthropometric data that can be used to design or redesign agricultural machines, tools and equipment. Date-palm agriculture is still done traditionally in most of the date-palm producing countries. The introduction of ergonomically designed technology will improve the date-palm industry.     

Does body mass index increase the risk of low back pain in a population exposed to whole body vibration?

The aim of this study was to determine whether body mass index (BMI) influences the risk of low back pain (LBP) in a population exposed to whole body vibration (WBV). For this a self-administered questionnaire was sent to 467 participants, driving occupational vehicles. Vibration measurements were performed according to ISO 2631-1 on a representative sample (n=30) of this population. For each participant, we calculated the current root mean square (r.m.s.) over an 8 h (A(8)) working day. The questionnaire response rate was 47% (n=221). We did not find a significant correlation between BMI and the onset of LBP in the last 7 days (r=0.07, p=0.34) nor for LBP in past 12 months (r=-0.30, p=0.63). No significant increased risk was found for the onset of LBP with the increase of BMI, neither for the last 7 days (OR 1.02; 95% CI: 0.93-1.23) nor for the past 12 months LBP (OR 0.98; 95% CI: 0.89-1.09). Introducing the interaction with WBV exposure in the logistic regression model, did not result a significant increased risk in the onset of LBP-7 days (OR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.92-1.01) nor in the onset of LBP 12 months (OR 0.97; 95% CI: 0.93-1.01) either. Occupational participants exposed to WBV, with a high BMI do not have an increased risk for the development of LBP.     

人体三维建模和超声人体通信的仿真研究

为了实现无线健康监测,人体通信技术发展迅速.然而,人体是电磁波信号传输的障碍物,盲目增大电磁波辐射场不利于人体安全.长期临床应用证明超声在人体组织的穿透性能优于电磁波且对人体无害.但现有二维模型在仿真人体内信号传输多径效应上受限.为此提出按照人体组织的层次结构建立三维人体模型,用K空间方法解决了传统方法中模型复杂度高的问题,提高了仿真速度和仿真效率.通过仿真对比实验,测试不同类型的信号、不同信号频率和不同人体组织的传输特性,找到了应对人体信道多径效应和高衰减问题的通信方法,最终对体内跨组织传输场景进行仿真.结果表明,600KHz的调相信号可实现跨越不同人体组织的信号传输,利用超声实现人体通信是安全可行的.     

Automatic body landmark identification for various body figures

In this paper, we presented automatic body landmark identification algorithms that deals flexibly with the difference in body shapes and reduces the inconsistency resulting from the differences in body shapes. First, the landmark search range was defined using the statistical analysis. Next, body scan direction was identified and it was segmented. Next, automatic landmark identification algorithms were developed for each of the six landmarks and the accuracy was examined for each body shape. The scans were extracted from 5th Size Korea database. This algorithms were successfully tested on various body shapes and improved the robustness.

Relevance to industry

In automatic body measurement systems, the landmark location error occurring at nonstandard body shapes nullifies the advantage of saving time. It also makes the 3D scan measurements unreliable. The improvement of reliability and accuracy of the automatic 3D body measurement algorithm for various human body shapes will reduce the time for performing measurements and be practical for use in human-size-related production processes.     

An approach to averaging digitized plantagram curves

The averaging of outline shapes of the human foot for the purposes of determining information concerning foot shape and dimension within the context of comfort of fit of sport shoes is approached as a mathematical problem. An outline of the human footprint is obtained by standard procedures and the curvature is traced with a Hewlett Packard Digitizer. The paper describes the determination of an alignment axis, the identification of two ray centres and the division of the total curve into two overlapping arcs. Each arc is divided by equiangular rays which intersect chords between digitized points describing the arc. The radial distance of each ray is averaged within groups of foot lengths which vary by ± 2·25 mm (approximately equal to 1/2 shoe size). The method has been used to determine average plantar curves in a study of 1197 North American males (Hawes and Sovak 1993).