Anthropometric Databases
R. E. Herron · 2023
This chapter is devoted to anthropometric databases in ergonomics. It shows an attempt to summarize the variability in anthropometric characteristics of different human populations or groups which can be available in diverse types of databases. For this aim, the history of anthropometric databases and the complexity of the needs of creating such source are shown. The author discusses hazards which may encounter unexperienced practitioner while creating, selecting and using the databases. Furthermore, he underlines the need of supplementing or adjusting the best available data set, using sophisticated methods for estimating or forecasting, to arrive at a description of the desired design criteria. Moreover, the limitations of the civil data are also presented, especially in reference to a great number of publications of government agencies and specialized centers. Finally, the anthropometric databases for digital human models are discussed. This direction shows the future of the application of such data to promote the proactive use of anthropometric information for improving the human–machine and human–environment design interface.