EUROFIT - Integration, Homogenisation and Extension of the Scope of Large 3D Anthropometric Data Pools for Product Development

Abstract

Over the last decades, human body metrics have been used to improve human-product interaction. Along this period, the use of 1D-measurements in "classic" ergonomic applications has been extended to consumer goods industries such as the automotive, apparel, furniture or orthopedic products. New technologies for the gathering, storage and analysis of anthropometric data have boosted the availability of digital anthropometric resources. Since 1999, more than 16 large-scale national 3D body scanning surveys have been conducted around the world (six in Europe). The availability of these data pools has created the opportunity to exploit shape information beyond today's 1D-measurement based use and methodologies. However, these data pools are dispersed and heterogeneous (e.g. different scanning technologies or different protocols) and, above all, the exploitation of 3D data at industry level requires knowledge, skills and resources beyond the means of companies, especially SMEs. These barriers have until now strongly limited the use of existing 3D shape data to scientific and academic research.