Anthropometric procedures for design decisions: From flat map to 3D scanning

Anthropometric principles have been applied to many applications in various industries, for reasons of product value, efficacy and safety. This paper presents four anthropometric approaches for product design decisions. A univariate method has been widely used in designing for extremes, such as in determining door heights. A bivariate method has been useful for products that primarily involve dual essential dimensions, such as in shoe-sizing applications. For many other applications, a multivariate accommodation approach is necessary to account for both the body size variance and proportional variability. A 3D shape-quantification approach is advisable for determining sizing schemes and. size ranges of personal protective equipment, such as fall protection harnesses. A 31) digital feature-envelope approach is instrumental for placement of control components in workspaces, such as in a farm-tractor-cab accommodation.