Anthropometry

What is Anthropometry?

The term ANTHROPOMETRY (Greek:

Anthrop human, metrikos measuring)
refers to the human body measurements,
which includes not only body dimensions, but
also strength, speed, and range of motion data.
These can be utilized for machine design,
workplace layout, equipment design, etc.

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 Sources of Data

Several studies have been done on the

measurement of anthropometric dimensions.
Most of them are on defence personnel and so
much of the data is classified and unavailable.
Recently, however, ready-to-use data packs are
being made available on a commercial basis.
In India, several anthropometric studies have been
reported, both from the defence and also from the
design field. The Indian Standards Institution (now
BIS) has also published some anthropometric data.

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 Variations in Man

About 35% of our body weight is water.

On the basis of fat, muscle and bone content, the
human body has been classified into three different
types:
1. ECTOMORPHIC - very thin body type, with
minimum fat
2. MESOMORPHIC muscular structure
3. ENDOMORPHIC high fat content
All these body types are highly influenced by the
working environment, working habit, food habits,
life-style, etc.
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 Types of Anthropometric Data

In general, body dimensions fall into two categories:

1. STATIC anthropometry
2. DYNAMIC anthropometry
Static anthropometric measurements are taken
with the subject in static conditions, e.g.
measurements of height, breadth. These are related
to chair design, work bench height, etc.

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Static Anthropometry

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 Dynamic Anthropometry

Dynamic anthropometric
measurements are those
measurements which are taken
while man is in motion,
e.g. measurements of range of
motion. These are related to
control panel reach, positioning
of controls, force application at
different angles, etc.

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 Design for the Average

It is a common response to first consider the average or mean

dimension when planning any design.
If we design the door for the average person, the height of the door
will be certainly inconvenient to many tall persons in fact, to all
persons above average height.
Similarly, shorter than average persons will find it difficult to reach a
switch located at a point which the average man can reach up to.
An escape hatch which has a diameter equal to the shoulder breadth
of an average man will certainly be a life-threatening situation for
well-built persons.
This is because the mean or average represents 50% of the population
range hence half of the population will always be inconvenienced.
Thus design for the average, or use of average value in design is
absolutely wrong.
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 Percentiles

The term PERCENTILE indicates the

percentage of persons within the population
having a body dimension lower than the
specified value.
Example: The 1st percentile in body height
means that only 1% of the population has
height less than that value

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 Percentiles

In practice, the persons at the extreme limits (giants

or dwarfs) are not taken into account. The primary
question to be answered is who will be more
inconvenienced?
In the case of the door, it is obviously the tall person,
and in the case of the switch, the short person.
Quantitatively, a certain percentage of the population
is cut off to eliminate the extreme cases. Usually the
cut off is around 5%, but can also be 1% or even
10%, depending on the criticality and the cost.

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 Percentiles

Door example: - since the tall persons will be

inconvenienced, the top 5% of the height range will
be cut off, and the 95th PERCENTILE value for
height is taken.
This gives us the MINIMUM height of the door
through which 95% of the population will be able to
pass without difficulty. (also Escape Hatch)
Switch: a MAXIMUM height of the switch is
obtained be cutting off the lower 5%, and the
5th PERCENTILE arm reach is taken to locate the
switch, which can be reached by 95% of the people.

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Anthropometry - Data

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 Anthropometry - Application

Another fallacy is that a short person will have all

dimensions in the shorter range. A person having 5th
percentile height might have an arm length closer to
the 50th percentile value. Thus when a prototype is
tested, it is important to test it with a sizeable sample
user group, and not just with one short and one tall
person.

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 Anthropometry - Application

There are three ways in which a design will fit the user:
a. Single Size For All - A single size may accommodate all
members of the population. A workstation which has a switch
located within the reach limit of the smallest person, for instance,
will allow everyone to reach the switch.
b. Adjustment - The design can incorporate an adjustment
capability. The most common example of this is the automobile
seat.
c. Several Sizes - Several sizes of equipment may be required to
accommodate the full population size-range. This is usually
necessary for equipment or personal items that must closely
conform to the body such as clothing and gloves.
All three situations require the designer to use anthropometric data.
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Anthropometry - Application

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