Analysis of a 3D Anthropometric Data set of Children for Design Applications

Designers integrate the use of anthropometric data in their design process to optimize the usability and functioning of a product while improving comfort and safety. Information regarding the size and shape of the human body are important when it comes to designing products in general, and especially where fit is essential such as helmets, ventilation masks and goggles. Advances in 3D imaging technologies have facilitated the collection of these measurements and shapes. In addition, because of the high capturing speed, these technologies have great advantage when gatheringanthropometric data of elderly or children.In order to design a ventilation mask for young children an anthropometric survey was conducted to map the shape of the head and face of children between the ages of 0.5 to 7 years old. A total of 307 children were measured through a combination of traditional anthropometric measurements and 3Dscan-derived measurements. The facial measurements of children 6 years of age were analysed and in order to map the variation between them, a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was conducted. The results of the PCA could give designers an insight into the measurements that explain thevariation in children’s faces.