Users of anthropometric (human body size) information want to push a button to get an answers to their application questions.  However at this point even some of the simplest problems require an expert to intervene.  The objective of this project is to identify and develop data models, software tools, theoretical constructs and principles that support the development of an on-line world-wide information system for utilizing the latest anthropometry databases in engineering environments. This system, the World Engineering Anthropometry Resource (WEAR), would include not only the latest 3D surface anthropometric data from all over the world, but also traditional anthropometric data, fit and accommodation information, analytic and software tools, and guidance or intelligent agents for using the information effectively.  There are three basic research issues which must be addressed: 1) understanding the cognitive processes of an anthropometry expert when dealing with such databases, 2) identifying a means to computationally replicate these processes, and 3) characterizing huge populations of 3-D objects (human body scans) in a manner that can be effectively searched, mined and visualized.    Such an information system would be able to be continually updated by registered users, and the information contained in it distributed throughout the world. This front-end study would determine the best potential technologies for replicating the experts and characterizing populations of 3-D objects in a systems approach that takes into account all of the other aspects and requirements of such a resource. New 3-D surface anthropometry data represents a valuable global resource if methods can be developed to exploit its potential.

Anthropometric data are collected and used by all types of organizations for many types of applications. These including universities, hospitals, health statistics departments, militaries, apparel companies, furniture manufacturers, automobile manufacturers, safety equipment companies, aerospace companies, and many other industries and organizations. Given the global nature of commerce most industries are interested in data from many countries, however, collecting this data is expensive. It would benefit everyone if the data collected by different organizations could be quickly and easily shared. We expect to be able to leverage evolving Web technologies for describing semantics such as XML Schema and RDF and to apply them to anthropometry. There are however, many challenges including: multiple data modalities; massive database size; lack of 3D object searching technology; measurement terminology differences; accessibility; ownership issues and many more.   The technology needed to create such a system is spread throughout the world and across many disciplines.  Furthermore, since the information system needs to be a worldwide resource it will be necessary to have participants throughout the world collaborate from the very start of the process.

Membership

Hein Daanen, PhD. (co-chair)
      TNO Human Factors
      PO Box 23
      3769 ZG  Soesterberg
      The Netherlands
      +31 346 356 402
      daanen@tm.tno.nl

Kathleen M. Robinette, Ph.D. (co-chair)
      Air Force Research Laboratory AFRL/HEPA (USA)
      2800 Q Street, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433-7947
      (937) 255-8810, DSN 785-8810, FAX (937) 255-2019
       kathleen.robinette@wpafb.af.mil

Sandy Ressler (USA), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), 100 Bureau Drive, STOP 8940, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, (301) 975-3549, sressler@nist.gov

Mr. Steven Paquette, US Army Natick Soldier Center, Science and Technology Directorate, A TTN: AMSRD-NSC-SS-E, Natick, MA 01760, (508) 233-5430, steven.paquette@natick.army.mil

Dr. Lee Young Suk (Korea), Chonnam University, 300 yongbong-dong, puk-gu,, gwangju 500-757, Korea, tel: 82-62-530-0114, ysl@chonnam.ac.kr

Dr. Masaaki Mochimaru (Japan), Digital Human Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Water Front 3F 2-41-6,Aomi,Koto-ku,Tokyo, 135-0064, Japan, TEL: +81-3-3599-8194, m-mochimaru@aist.go.jp

Dr. Makiko Kouchi (Japan), Digital Human Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology, Water Front 3F 2-41-6,Aomi,Koto-ku,Tokyo, 135-0064, Japan, TEL: +81-3-3599-8194, m-kouchi@aist.go.jp

Dr. Regis Mollard (France), Universite Rene Descartes, UFR Biomedicale des Saints-Peres, Laboratoire d'Anthropologie Appliquee, 45 rue des Saints-Peres, 75270 Paris Cedex 06 - France, regis.mollard@univ-paris5.fr

Dr. Eric Paquet (Canada), National Research Council Canada, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0R6 Canada, eric.paquet@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Ms. Daisy Veitch (Australia), SHARP Dummies Pty Ltd , 102 Gloucester Avenue , Belair SA 5052, Australia, Tel: +61 8 8370 0202., daisy@sharpdummies.com.au

Dr. Johan Molenbroek, (Netherlands), Delft University of Technology, Faculty Industrial Design Engineering, Landbergstraat 15, 2628CE, The Netherlands, tel +31-15-2783086, j.f.m.molenbroek@io.tudelft.nl

Ms. Karen Smit (South Africa), Ergonomics Technologies, PO Box 6264 , Pretoria 0001, South Africa, Tel: +27 12 665-9400

Dr. Maria Cristina Palmer Lima Zamberlan (Brasil), Ergonomics Laboratory / Industrial Design Division, National Institute of Technology, Av. Venezuela 82 - Térreo - Anexo 4, Centro - Rio de Janeiro, Zip code: 20081-312, 55 21 2123-1005, mariazam@int.gov.br,

Dr. Carla Patrícia Guimarães (Brasil), Ergonomics Laboratory / Industrial Design Division, National Institute of Technology, Av. Venezuela 82 - Térreo - Anexo 4, Centro - Rio de Janeiro, Zip code: 20081-312, 55 21 2123-1005, cpguimas@aol.com.br

Ms Flávia C. H. Pastura (Brasil), Ergonomics Laboratory / Industrial Design Division, National Institute of Technology, Av. Venezuela 82 - Térreo - Anexo 4, Centro - Rio de Janeiro, Zip code: 20081-312, 55 21 2123-1005, flaviach@int.gov.br

Dr. Mao-Jiun Wang (Taiwan), National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2 Kuang Fu Road, Hsinchu, Taiwan 300, Republic of China , tel : 886-03-5717470., mjwang@ie.nthu.edu.tw

Dr. Marc Rioux (Canada), Visual Information Technology, Institute for Information Technology, National Research Council, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0R6 Canada, tel: +1 (613) 993-7902, marc.rioux@nrc.ca

Dr. Zouhour Benazouz (Canada), Visual Information Technology, Institute for Information Technology, National Research Council, Ottawa (Ontario) K1A 0R6 Canada, tel: +1 (613) 998-5372, zouhour.benazouz@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

Summary of Recent Activities

We currently have participants from 10 countries illustrated in the map below: 

 

We have had three international workshops since the 2006 General Assembly. The first, in Feb 2007 in Adelaide Australia, the second in July 2007 Baanff, Canada, and the third in Feb 2008 in Tokyo, Japan.

 

Some example slides from presentations in Adelaide that illustrate the type and breadth of work we are doing:

Regis Mollard - UFR Biomédicale - Université Paris 5 - France	Makiko Kouchi, Masaaki Mochimaru, DHM - Japan
Hein Daanan et al, TNO – Netherlands	Marc Rioux, et al. - NRC – Canada
Johan Molenbroek, TUDelft -– Netherlands	Catherine Harrison, Kathleen Robinette - Wright Patterson AFB – USA

Impact of the Task Group Activities

We expect the Task Group to substantially contribute to the creation of a world wide unification of anthropometric methods, data and terminology which will be made accessible via a set of Web Services. The types of data we are using include: anthropometric measures; strength; reach; kinematics and so on. One of the key mechanisms we are undertaking to ensure the continued viability of this work is to form a WEAR organization which will be self-sustaining. A non-profit organization registered in Europe has been created. Following is a brochure describing the WEAR organization: