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.     

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.     

Child body shape measurement using depth cameras and a statistical body shape model

We present a new method for rapidly measuring child body shapes from noisy, incomplete data captured from low-cost depth cameras. This method fits the data using a statistical body shape model (SBSM) to find a complete avatar in the realistic body shape space. The method also predicts a set of standard anthropometric data for a specific subject without measuring dimensions directly from the fitted model. Since the SBSM was developed using principal component (PC) analysis, we formulate an optimisation problem to fit the model in which the degrees of freedom are defined in PC-score space. The mean unsigned distance between the fitted-model based on depth-camera data and the high-resolution laser scan data was 9.4 mm with a standard deviation (SD) of 5.1 mm. For the torso, the mean distance was 2.9 mm (SD 1.4 mm). The correlations between standard anthropometric dimensions predicted by the SBSM and manually measured dimensions exceeded 0.9.     

Anthropometric characteristics of Chilean workers for ergonomic and design purposes

Obtaining an appropriate match between a product and its end-users requires anthropometric data, which are typically outdated and show variations among different countries. Chile had its anthropometric data taken nearly 20 years ago, thus they are probably outdated. The purpose of this article is to describe some anthropometric characteristics of Chilean workers. An anthropometric survey involving 27 measures and five calculated body dimensions was conducted in 2016. The measurements were based on ISO 7250 and ISO 15535 to ensure the highest standards possible, and a total of 2946 workers, aged from 18 to 76 years old, participated in the survey. The results showed that Chilean workers have smaller dimensions than Dutch and US workers but have larger dimensions than South Koreans. The data presented in this article constitute the most up-to-date anthropometric dataset describing the dimensions of Chilean workers.

Practitioner Summary: In Chile, women are smaller and weigh less than men, and both of these populations have high body mass index (BMIs). In addition, the Chilean population exhibits substantial differences compared with other international adult populations. The data presented in this article should be used as a reference when designing for Chilean workers.     

Classification of upper lateral body shapes for the apparel industry

The lateral body shape is a critical determiner of the fit of garments. Either visual assessment or statistical analysis methods have been used to classify the lateral body types. These methods are limited to some extent since various anthropometric features inherently coexist and interact in a human body shape. This study aims to develop objective criteria for the classification of upper lateral body shapes integrating visual assessment and statistical analysis. The three‐dimensional scan data of 246 women between 18 and 49 years old were visually classified into four lateral body shapes by an expert panel. In addition, the back space and lateral angles extracted from the scan data were employed for further statistical analyses. Multinomial logistic regressions were used to develop logit models for lateral body types. It was concluded that the resulting logit models could classify lateral body types and calculate the probability of a set of body scan data being classified as a certain lateral body type. It is expected that this probability might be a guideline to quantify the characteristics of the lateral body shape in the apparel industry. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

An updated estimate of the body dimensions of US children

Anthropometric data from children are important for product design and the promulgation of safety standards. The last major detailed study of child anthropometry in the USA was conducted more than 30 years ago. Subsequent demographic changes and the increased prevalence of overweight and obesity render those data increasingly obsolete. A new, large-scale anthropometric survey is needed. As an interim step, a new anthropometric synthesis technique was used to create a virtual population of modern children, each described by 84 anthropometric measures. A subset of these data was validated against limited modern data. Comparisons with data from the 1970s showed significant changes in measures of width and circumference of the torso, arms and legs. Measures of length and measurements of the head, face, hands and feet exhibited little change. The new virtual population provides guidance for a comprehensive child anthropometry survey and could improve safety and accommodation in product design.

Practitioner Summary: This research reviews the inadequacies of available sources of US child anthropometry as a result of the rise in the rates of overweight and obesity. A new synthesised database of detailed modern child anthropometry was created and validated. The results quantify changes in US child body dimensions since the 1970s.     

Surveying the dimensions and characteristics of Korean ears for the ergonomic design of ear-related products

Six hundred male and female Korean subjects aged 17–89 were selected for this study. Four different points of the outer ear—the lengths of the pinna, the ear connection point, the earhole and the lobule thickness—were measured and analyzed along with demographic data, including age, stature and weight. The results showed that age, sex and different ethnic populations were determinants of ear dimensions as exemplified by the length of the pinna which increases as age increases (r=0.689). The primary objective of this study was to provide product designers with the anthropometric dimensions of Korean ears and recommend appropriate solutions for the ergonomic design of ear-related products. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that the change in body parts due to aging be considered in the application of anthropometric data when designing such products.

Relevance to Industry

Limited research has been done on the dimensions of ears although an extensive amount of research has been conducted on other parts of the human body. The findings of this study, therefore, can be used as a basis for researching and producing ergonomically designed ear-related products.     

South Korean anthropometric data and survey methodology: ‘Size Korea’ project

Abstract

Considering the many emerging markets in East Asia, access to contemporary anthropometric data for this region is important for designers and manufacturers seeking to produce the best fitting products and living environments for consumers. The purpose of this paper is to describe Korean anthropometric data collection and survey techniques for those who are interested in ethnic characteristics, conducting surveys, and formulating ergonomic product designs for South Korean and, more broadly, East Asian populations. The Size Korea survey was conducted in 2003–2004 and 2010. A total of 14,200 civilians aged 0–90 years participated in the survey, with 119 body and weight dimensions measured in 2004. Twenty new dimensions from Inbody measurement were added in 2010 and the data were continuously updated. We referred to ISO 7250, 8559 and 15535 to ensure validity and reliability. Fifty major body dimensions, including weight, are summarised in this paper, and 34 of these dimensions can be compared with 11 multinational data already reported in other publications.

Practitioner Summary: This paper presents the up-to-date anthropometric database of East Asian physical characteristics and survey methodology. These data satisfy the ISO standards and comprise 50 physical dimensions including weight. Thirty-four dimensions of these can be directly compared with available multinational data.     

A case-based classifier for hypertension detection

The exploration of three-dimensional (3D) anthropometry scanning data along with other existing subject medical profiles using data mining techniques becomes an important research issue for medical decision support. This research attempts to construct a classification approach based on the hybrid use of case-based reasoning (CBR) and genetic algorithms (GAs) for hypertension detection using anthropometric body surface scanning data. The obtained result reveals the relationship between a subject’s 3D scanning data and hypertension disease. The GA is adopted to determine the appropriate feature weights for CBR. The proposed approaches were experimented and compared with a regular CBR and other widely used approaches including neural nets and decision trees. The experiment showed that applying GA to determine the suitable weights in CBR is a feasible approach to improving the effectiveness of case matching of hypertension disease. It also demonstrated that different weighted CBR approach presents better classification accuracy over the results obtained from other approaches.     

Static anthropometry of civilian Chinese in Taiwan using computer-analyzed photography

The purpose of this study was to establish a static anthropometric data bank for Chinese civilians in Taiwan using a computer-analyzed photographic method. Stratified random sampling was applied to decide the sampling site; sample size was established by considering standard errors in a pilot study. Then a photographic method was employed in addition to direct measurement of selected body dimensions. In all, 933 subjects were measured. The data were entered via a digitizer into a microcomputer for processing. The resulting anthropometric data bank was organized by age, sex, and occupational groupings. Comparisons with data from previous studies were made, and recommendations for further research presented.     

A survey of the anthropometric data relating to five ethnic groups in Assam considering gender and ethnic diversity: Application of the data in designing an improvised pedal-operated Chaak

This study was undertaken to gather and analyze the anthropometric data of five ethnic groups from Assam, India. In this study, 72 anthropometric body dimensions, including the age and body weight of 453 people from different districts of Assam, India, are summarized. The sample included 265 male and 188 female participants in the age group of 18–60 years. Five different ethnic groups of the state, that is, Boro, Garo, Hira, Karbi, and Rabha, are considered in the study. People associated with the handicraft sector are considered for the study's purposes. The variation in anthropometric data considering gender and ethnic diversity is also examined, and significant differences are observed in relation to gender and ethnicity. The most notable variation observed is in the anthropometric dimensions of Hira population when compared to the other four ethnic groups of the same gender. Factor analysis and regression modelling are also done as part of the study. Further, the collected data are used to redesign the traditional Chaak (pottery wheel) and, cater to their comfort with added safety. These enhancements are intended to double the productivity of artisans as compared to that obtained by the existing Chaak that is being used by the artisans.The relevance of the studyThe fresh anthropometric data summarized in this study will be helpful for redesigning tools and machinery for the rural population of Assam, India. The outcomes of the study will add knowledge to the differences existing with regard to the anthropometric data of the different native groups from a small geographical space.     

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.     

A survey of anthropometry of rural agricultural workers in Enugu State,south-eastern Nigeria

In developed countries, large amount of anthropometric data are available for reference purposes; however, anthropometric data of Nigerian populace are lacking. As a result, most agricultural machines and equipment used are designed using anthropometric data from other populations of the world. A total of 377 rural agricultural workers within the age limit of 18–45 years, who are involved in different agricultural activities, were selected from six rural agriculture-based communities in Enugu state. Thirty-six anthropometric body dimensions were measured including age and body weight. A comparison between the male and female data indicated that data obtained from male agricultural workers were higher than that obtained from their female counterparts in all body dimensions except chest (bust) depth, abdominal breadth and hip breadth (sitting). In terms of design parameters, it was observed that the data from Nigerian agricultural workers were different from that obtained from agricultural workers in north-eastern India.

Practitioner Summary. Anthropometric data of Nigeria populace are lacking. As a result, most agricultural machines and equipment used are designed using anthropometric data from other populations of the world. It was observed that the data from Nigerian agricultural workers were different from that obtained from agricultural workers in north-eastern India.     

Body shape analyses of large persons in South Korea

Despite the prevalence of obesity and overweight, anthropometric characteristics of large individuals have not been extensively studied. This study investigated body shapes of large persons (Broca index ≥ 20, BMI ≥ 25 or WHR>1.0) using stature-normalised body dimensions data from the latest South Korean anthropometric survey. For each sex, a factor analysis was performed on the anthropometric data set to identify the key factors that explain the shape variability; and then, a cluster analysis was conducted on the factor scores data to determine a set of representative body types. The body types were labelled in terms of their distinct shape characteristics and their relative frequencies were computed for each of the four age groups considered: the 10s, 20s–30s, 40s–50s and 60s. The study findings may facilitate creating artefacts that anthropometrically accommodate large individuals, developing digital human models of large persons and designing future ergonomics studies on largeness.

Practitioner Summary: This study investigated body shapes of large persons using anthropometric data from South Korea. For each sex, multivariate statistical analyses were conducted to identify the key factors of the body shape variability and determine the representative body types. The study findings may facilitate designing artefacts that anthropometrically accommodate large persons.     

Biomechanical parameters on body segments of Korean adults

This study investigates anthropometric and kinetic characteristics of Korean adults. Dimensions, immersion method for volumes and reaction board method for centers of masses are directly measured.The anthropometric characteristics of eighteen body segments on a sample of 1199 male subjects and 937 female subjects whose ages range between 20 and 39 in Kim et al. (1992), are used to estimate segment lengths as a fraction of body height. Thirty-one male subjects and 29 female subjects in their twenties and thirties are served for anthropometric and kinetic measurements of body segments according to Röhrer index.Obtained data are compared with cadaver data in Dempster (1955), Matsui (1958)and Clauser et al. (1969). Also, to observe anthropometric and kinetic trends of Korean adults, results are compared with the results in Jung (1993)and Lim (1994).Relevance to industryObtained anthropometric and kinetic data can be applied to areas such as workspace design, statistical guidelines for product design, human movement analysis, human manikin development, vehicle seats and furniture design.     

Design of combine harvester seat based on anthropometric data of Iranian operators

Harvesting operation with agricultural combines imposes excessive physical loads on the operators and the poorly designed seats may be an important contributory factor in this regard. This aims of this field study were to evaluate the possible mismatch between seat dimensions of existing harvesting combines and anthropometric characteristics of 200 Iranian operators and to propose seat dimensions based on anthropometric principles. The anthropometric dimensions of each individual operator were compared to the relative seat dimensions using the equations proposed in the literature. The results showed a considerable mismatch for different seat dimensions including upper backrest width (100%), seat height (97%), armrest height (83.7%), seat width (52.8%), lower backrest width (40.6%) and seat depth (39.5%). This meant that the existing combine seats were too high, too narrow and too shallow and had armrests and backrests which did not match with body dimensions of the majority of the operators. It was shown that compared to the existing designs, the new proposed dimensions (including seat height = 400 mm, seat width = 450 mm, seat depth = 410 mm, armrest height = 290 mm, backrest height = 420 mm, upper backrest width = 360 mm and lower backrest width = 400 mm) better matched to the operator's anthropometry, with the match percentages ranging from 77% to 100%.Relevance to industryThe design and manufacturing of agricultural machinery should be made based on the anthropometric characteristics of actual users to avoid unnecessary demands on them. This study provide additional data on the operator's anthropometry that can be used as a starting point for designing more appropriate agricultural machinery or used by other researchers in the field.     

Nonlinear regression equations for segmental mass-inertial characteristics of Korean adults estimated using three-dimensional range scan data

Human modeling and the biomechanical analysis of human movement require the accurate estimation of body segment parameters for various populations and individuals. In this study, the body characteristics of adult Koreans were investigated using three-dimensional range scan data for 40 males and 40 females aged between 18 and 59 years obtained from the SizeKorea anthropometric database. Each subject was divided into 16 segments, and the mass-inertial parameters of each segment were calculated under the assumption of a uniform density distribution for the segment. The length and at least one circumference of each segment were determined from the scan data for that segment. Nonlinear regression equations were then derived based on the segment lengths and circumferences. The body segment parameters of Korean adults can be estimated using these equations if the required dimensions are measured directly or derived from an anthropometric database.