Title: Description of boundary case methodology for anthropometric diversity consideration

Authors: Erik Brolin; Dan Högberg; Lars Hanson

Addresses: Virtual Systems Research Center, University of Skövde, Box 408, SE-541 28, Skövde, Sweden; Department of Product and Production Development, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden ' Virtual Systems Research Center, University of Skövde, Box 408, SE-541 28, Skövde, Sweden ' Industrial Development, Scania, Scania CV, SE-151 87 Södertälje, Sweden; Department of Product and Production Development, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden

Abstract: This paper describes and evaluates the boundary case methodology for the simultaneous consideration of variance for a number of selected anthropometric variables. The methodology includes the calculation of key dimension values for extreme but likely anthropometric measurement combinations. This data can be applied when utilising digital human modelling (DHM) tools for proactive design work and entered as input data when representative manikins are defined. The mathematical procedure is clearly described and exemplified to demonstrate how to use the methodology in design work. The outcome of the method is illustrated and compared using several different cases where the number of measurements is varied and where principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reduce the number of dimensions in one case. The paper demonstrates that the proposed boundary case method is advantageous compared to approaches based on the use of univariate percentile data in design.

Keywords: anthropometry; anthropometric diversity; confidence region; boundary case; manikins; accommodation; digital human models; digital human modelling; DHM; design; principal component analysis; PCA; anthropometric variables.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHFMS.2012.051097

International Journal of Human Factors Modelling and Simulation, 2012 Vol.3 No.2, pp.204 - 223

Received: 03 Jan 2012
Accepted: 13 Sep 2012
Published online: 29 Aug 2014 *

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