PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE OF
ANTHROPOMETRICS
Prepared by:
Hazel A. Caparas, MSIE, ASEAN Eng.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
q Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of
anthropometric data and its significance in
designing workstations and products for optimal
human use.
q Apply acquired knowledge to effectively measure
and interpret anthropometric measurements,
identifying their practical implications in
ergonomic design.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
q Critically analyze existing workstations or
products, recognizing areas for improvement
based on anthropometric considerations and
proposing design modifications accordingly.
q Utilize anthropometric data as a fundamental tool
in collaborative design processes, fostering
innovation and efficiency while prioritizing user-
centered outcomes.
“We found out that airplane manufacturers are still
building airplanes the way they want, but God is
not making people to fit them.”
(from a story that appeared in Washington Post, May 25, 1984)
Anthropometry
q the science of measurement and the art of
application that establish the physical geometry,
mass properties, and strength capabilities of the
human body
q derived from the terms anthropos (human) and
metrikos (pertaining to measurement)
Anthropometry
q Adolphe Quetelet, first applied statistics to
anthropological data.
q analysis of forces and torques during manual
material handling, accommodation comfort and
general human performance
Why Anthropometry?
q to design workplaces, equipment and the
physical environment to fit the characteristics
and capabilities of most people in a complex
task
q one of the basic tools for the analysis and
development of engineering design
requirements
Types of Information Necessary for
Design
(i) the anthropometric characteristics of the user
population;
(ii) the ways in which these characteristics might
impose constraints upon the design;
(iii) the criteria that define an effective match
between the product and the user.
Knowledge and Skills Required
q Human Anatomy
q Statistical principles and methodologies
q Mathematics, concepts of mass properties, force
and torque
q Planning and organizing time and processes
q Good language skills and facility in writing
scientific material
The statistical description of
human variability
Design Limits
In practice, design for the 5–95 %ile range, for the
middle 90% of the user population.
Constraints and Criteria
Constraint is an observable, preferably
measurable, characteristic of human beings, which
has consequences for the design of a particular
artefact.
Constraints and Criteria
Criterion is a standard of judgment against which
the match between user and object may be
measured.
Constraints of Anthropometrics
q Clearance, one-way constraints and
determine the minimum acceptable dimension
in the object.
q Reach, one-way constraints and determine the
maximum acceptable dimension of the object.
Constraints of Anthropometrics
q Posture, determined by the relationship
between the dimensions of his body and those
of his workstation.
q Strength, determine the level of force that is
acceptable to a weak limiting user and
constraint for accidental operation of a control.
Principle of the limiting user
Limiting user, hypothetical member of the user
population who, by virtue of his or her physical (or
mental) characteristics, imposes the most severe
constraint on the design of the artefact
Fitting trials and the method of limits
A fitting trial is a type of psychophysical
experiment—that is, one in which people make
subjective (i.e. psychological) judgments
concerning the objective properties of physical
objects or events.
Fitting trials and the method of limits
Method of limits this technique is a model or
analogue of the fitting trial, in which
anthropometric criteria and data are used as
substitutes to ‘stand for’ the subjective
judgments of real people.
Fitting trials and the
method of limits
Anthropometric Data – clothing
corrections
Corrections for shoes worn in public places on
formal and semi-formal occasions:
q for men, add 25 mm to all dimensions;
q for women, add 45 mm to all dimensions
Standard anthropometric postures
Standard standing posture
the subject stands erect, pulling himself up to his
full height and looking straight ahead, with his
shoulders relaxed and his arms hanging loosely by
his sides
Standard anthropometric postures
Standard sitting posture
the subject sits erect on a horizontal, flat surface,
pulled up to his full height and looking straight
ahead
the shoulders are relaxed, with the upper arms
hanging freely by the sides and the forearms
horizontal
Standard anthropometric postures
Standard sitting posture
The height of the seat is adjusted until the thighs
are horizontal and the lower legs are vertical.
Four Customary Positions
q Standing naturally upright
q Standing stretched to maximum height
q Leaning against a wall with the back flattened
and the buttocks, shoulder and back of the head
touching the wall
q Lying on the back
Head in Frankfurt Plane
The head is positioned to be “straight”: the pupils
are on the same horizontal level, and the Ear-Eye
Line is angled 15 degrees against the horizon.
Head in Frankfurt Plane
Standard anthropometric postures
Horizontal reference plane is that of the seat
surface.
Vertical reference plane is a real or
imaginary plane which touches the back of the
uncompressed buttocks and shoulder blades of the
subject
Standard anthropometric postures
Seat reference point (SRP) lies at the point
of intersection of these two planes.
Median plane is the plane that divides it equally
into its right and left halves.
Body planes and Orientation
Defining the target population
Principal factors when defining target
population of users:
q Gender
q Age
q Nationality / Ethnicity
q Occupation / Social class
q Some exceptions for certain safety-critical
applications
Baseline Definitions
Height
A straight-line, point-to-point vertical
measurement.
Breadth
A straight-line, point-to-point horizontal
measurement running across the entire body
or a body segment.
Baseline Definitions
Depth
A straight-line, point-to-point horizontal
measurement running fore and aft the body.
Distance
A straight-line, point-to-point measurement
between landmarks on the body.
Baseline Definitions
Curvature
A point-to-point measurement following a
contour; this measurement is usually neither
closed nor circular.
Circumference
A closed measurement that follows a body
contour; hence, this measurement is not
circular.
Baseline Definitions
Reach
A point-to-point measurement following the
long axis of the arm or leg.
Anthropometric Statistics
Ways to calculate percentiles values and their
variables:
The 50th percentile
∑𝑥
𝑚=
𝑛
Where ∑ 𝑥 is the sum of the individual
measurements.
Anthropometric Statistics
To calculate a percentile value p of a normal
distribution:
if p is below the mean,
𝑝=𝑚 −𝑘s
If p is above the average,
𝑝=𝑚+𝑘s
Anthropometric Statistics
The mean of the difference between two
distributions is:
𝑚! = 𝑚" − 𝑚#
The estimated standard deviation of the summed
distribution z is
$ $ /2
𝑠! = 𝑠" + 𝑠# − 2𝑟𝑠" 𝑠# 1
Anthropometric Statistics
The mean of the sum between two distributions is:
𝑚! = 𝑚" + 𝑚#
The estimated standard deviation of the summed
distribution z is
$ $ /2
𝑠! = 𝑠" + 𝑠# + 2𝑟𝑠" 𝑠# 1
Factor k for Percentiles
Factor k for computing percentiles from Mean m and
Standard Deviation s
Percentile p associated with X
k
p = m - ks p = m + ks
2.58 0.50 99.50
2.33 1.00 99.00
2.06 2.00 98.00
1.96 2.50 97.50
1.88 3.00 97.00
1.65 5.00 95.00
1.28 10.00 90.00
1.04 15.00 85.00
1.00 16.50 83.50
0.84 20.00 80.00
0.67 25.00 75.00
0.00 50.00 50.00
Example:
To determine the 95th percentile, use k = 1.65
To determine the 20th percentile, use k = 0.84
Anthropometric Statistics
Coefficient of Correlation (r)
q For two length dimensions and two width
dimensions the estimated value of r = 0.65
q For two depth dimensions r = 0.20
q For a depth and a length dimension r = 0.20
q For a width and a length dimension r = 0.30
q For a depth and a width dimension r = 0.40
(Source: www.DINED.nl)
Anthropometric Statistics
(𝒛𝒔𝒙 )𝟐
𝒏=
𝑪𝟐
where:
𝒔𝒙 = standard deviation
𝑪 = precision
Anthropometric Statistics
Waist Circumference
Mean 802.9mm
Standard Deviation 81.8mm
Precision 1.5% (12mm)
Confidence 95% (z = 1.96)
(&.() ∗,&.,)!
𝑛= = 179 random respondents
&$!
Anthropometric Statistics
Correlation Coefficient (r)
The measure of the strength of the linear
relationship between two variables.
Determination
The measures of strength of association
represented by the regression.
Anthropometric Statistics
Correlation Coefficient (r)
±1.00 - ±0.91 very high correlation
±0.90 - ±0.71 high correlation
±0.70 - ±0.41 substantial correlation
±0.40 - ±0.21 low correlation
±0.20 - ±0.00 negligible correlation
Anthropometric Statistics
Regression Equation
y = a + bx
Where a=intercept
b=slope of the line
Sample Application
Keyboard Height Above the Seat
Task:
Establish the surface height of a keyboard so that the
sitting operator has the forearms and wrists horizontal.
The elbow height above the seat pan: females have a
mean of 220.5mm with standard deviation of 26.8mm;
the corresponding numbers for males are 230.6mm
and 27.2mm. The multiplication factor used to
calculate the 10th and 90th percentiles is 1.28.
Sample Application
Keyboard Height Above the Seat
Solution:
The height of the key tops should be adjustable from
186mm to 265mm so the adjustable range is 79mm
under the given assumptions.
Sample Application
10p = 220.5 – (1.28)(26.8)
10p = 186mm for females
10p = 230.6 – (1.28)(27.2)
10p = 196mm for males
90p = 220.5 + (1.28)(26.8)
90p = 255mm for females
90p = 230.6 + (1.28)(27.2)
90p = 265mm for males
Sample Application
Arm Length
Task:
Calculate the 95p shoulder-to-fingertip length. The
mean lower arm link length (with the hand) is 442.9mm
with a standard deviation of 23.4mm. The mean upper
arm (UA) link length is 335.8mm and its SD is 17.4mm.
The assumed correlation coefficient of 0.4
Sample Application
Arm Length
Solution:
𝑚% = 𝑚&% + 𝑚'% = 442.9 + 335.8 = 778.7𝑚𝑚
𝑠% = 23.4( + 17.4( + 2 𝑥 0.4 𝑥 23.4 𝑥23.4(
𝑠% = 34.3 mm
The 95p total arm length:
778.7mm + (1.65)(34.3) = 835.30mm
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Anthropometric Guidelines
Min-max Strategy
The min-max strategy is often successfully applied
when workstations, tools and tasks must be designed
to fit small and large operators, as well as everybody
in-between.
Devices and Procedures
Grid board and blocks
Source: https://images.slideplayer.com/9/2527348/slides/slide_32.jpg
Devices and Procedures
Anthropometers
Source: https://www.chponline.com/store/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=260
Devices and Procedures
Calipers
Source: https://www.anthropometricinstruments.com/en/sliding-caliper-m-222/
Devices and Procedures
Calipers
Source: https://www.anthropometricinstruments.com/en/spreading-caliper-k-211/
Devices and Procedures
Flexible tapes
Source: https://www.healthprofessionalsolutions.com.au/Basic_Measuring_Tape_p/bmt2.htm
Devices and Procedures
Goniometers
Source: https://www.fab-ent.com/evaluation/range-of-motion/baseline-plastic-goniometers/
Devices and Procedures
Indirect Methods
q Photography
q Video Recording
Internal imaging
q Ultrasonic scanning
q Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
q X-rays
Anthropometry and Psychology
Body Image Disturbance
any form of cognitive, affective, behavioral or
perceptual disturbance that is directly
concerned with an aspect of physical
appearance
Anthropometry and Psychology
q Men tend to underestimate their size, while
women tend to overestimate their size
q Men tend to overestimate the body size they
think is most attractive to women; women the
opposite
Anthropometry and Psychology
q Women tend to exhibit greater body image
dissatisfaction and body image distortion than
do men
q Those engaged in athletics requiring rigid body
weight or shape expectations are likely to
exhibit BID
Anthropometry and Psychology
Simply asking people for their height
and weight can lead to fairly reliable
information.
Engineering Anthropometrics
1 Stature
2 Eye Height
3 Shoulder Height
4 Elbow Height
5 Hip Height
6 Knuckle Height
7 Fingertip Height
Engineering Anthropometrics
8 Sitting Height
9 Sitting Eye Height
10 Sitting Shoulder
Height
11 Sitting Elbow Height
12 Thigh Thickness
15 Knee Height
16 Popliteal Height
20 Chest (Bust) Depth
Engineering Anthropometrics
13 Buttock-knee Length
14 Buttock-popliteal
Length
20 Chest Depth
21 Abdominal Depth
26 Head Length
Engineering Anthropometrics
17 Shoulder Breadth
(Bideltoid)
18 Shoulder Breadth
(Biacromial)
19 Hip Breadth
27 Head Breadth
Engineering Anthropometrics
22 Shoulder-elbow
Length
23 Shoulder-fingertip
Length
35 Grip Reaches
Engineering Anthropometrics
24 Upper Limb Length
25 Shoulder Grip Length
34 Grip Reaches
36 Grip Reaches
Engineering Anthropometrics
28 Hand Length
29 Hand Breadth
30 Foot Length
31 Foot Breadth
Engineering Anthropometrics
Anthropometric Design Principles
1. Define the population
2. Determine critical body dimensions
3. Select the percentage of the population to be
accommodated (or excluded)
4. Select the anthropometry principle: range or extreme
5. Locate data tables
6. Adjust for clothing, posture.
7. Test
Ergonomic Design Principles based on
Anthropometry
Design for Range
Principle: Allow for adjustments in position, size,
intensity, and duration of the product or system,
to accommodate unexpected circumstances and
maximize use (preferred option).
Ergonomic Design Principles based on
Anthropometry
Design for Extreme
Principle: Accommodate largest percent of the
population group where adjustability is costly or
not feasible
Rule of Thumb
Design so the tall can fit and the
small can reach.
END!
Any
questions?
References
1. Salvendy G., “Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics”,
4th Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey,
2012.
2. Kroemer K., Kroemer H. and Kroemer-Elbert K. “Ergonomics,
How to Design for Ease and Efficiency”, 2nd Edition, Pearson
Education, Asia Pte Ltd., 2001.
3. Pheasant, S., “Bodyspace Anthropometry, Ergonomics and
the Design of Work, Second Edition,” Taylor & Francis Inc.
Philadelphia, 2003.
