ANTHROPOMETRIC

Basis of Architectural Design

Introduction
The idea that the physical size of the
person is somehow related to the ability to
function in the world is so old that it is
surprising how often the concept is
neglected in everyday thought and design.
Introduction
Nevertheless many studies have
demonstrated the reductions in
performance that can occur if working
environments are not matched to the
individuals body sizes.
Anthropometry
Derived from the two Greek word anthropo(s),
human and metricos of or pertaining to
measurement.
The ergonomist (a person that studies
ergonomics, from the Greek: ergon - work;
nomos natural laws) therefore, uses
anthropomteric data to ensure, quite literally,
that the machine or the environment fits the
person.
Anthropometry
Whenever the human operator has to interact
with the environment it is important to have
details of the dimensions of the appropriate
body part.
So overall stature is an important determinant
of, for example, room size, door height or
cockpit dimensions.
Kinds of Anthropometry:
Structural Anthropometry (often called as
Static Anthropometry) deals with simple
dimensions of the stationary human being.
e.g. Weight, stature and the lengths, breadths,
depths and circumferences of particular body
structures.
Kinds of Anthropometry:
Functional Anthropometry (Dynamic
Anthropometry) deals with compound
measurements of the moving human being.
e.g. Reach and the angular ranges of various
joints.
Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

Even to the least observant person one thing

must be abundantly clear about body
dimensions there is wide variation between
members of a population.
With such variability it should be readily
apparent that anthropometric data need to be
used very carefully if they are to be of value.
Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

Just how much larger or smaller than average a

particular dimension depends on the
importance and function of the feature being
designed.
Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

e.g. (1) A cockpit joystick is useless if it is

placed outside the users reach and so the
reach dimension in this case would need to be
related to the reach of the smallest member of a
particular user population.
Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

e.g. (2) In military example, an escape hatch in a

submarine would need to be larger enough to
allow all 100% of the users through (with their
clothes) in an emergency.
Variability in Body Shapes and sizes

e.g. (3) As long as adjustable chairs are available

a desk height does not need to be large enough
to accommodate all users heights and so could
possibly be designed to accommodate, say, 90
to 95%.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

The wide distribution of body dimensions and

shapes which maybe encountered in a
population can often be due to slight genetic
differences.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

However, other, more readily observable

variables can affect body dimensions and their
variability and these include: AGE, SEX,
CULTURE, OCCUPATION, and HISTORICAL
TRENDS
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

AGE
The change in body dimensions from birth to
maturity is well known and, indeed, the
increases occur consistently although
sometimes irregularly.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

AGE
For height, as for most other body lengths, full
growth is attained for all practical purposes by
the age of 20 in males and 17 in females.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

AGE
Some shrinkage of older people has also been
noted, which is mainly due to biological
changes that take place as a part of the normal
ageing process flattening of discs between the
vertebrae, general thinning of the weight-
bearing cartilages, and so on.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SEX
With the increasing observance of sexual equality
in the workplace, designing for differences in body
dimensions between sexes will become an
important aspect of ergonomists task.
In this respect, males are generally larger than
females for most body dimensions, and the extent
of the difference varies from one dimension to
another.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SEX
Women, however, are larger than men in the
four dimensions of chest depth, hip breadth, hip
circumference and thigh circumference.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

CULTURE
The importance of national and cultural
differences in anthropometry has been realized
for some time, but until recently there has been
little concerted effort to implement the relevant
data in the production of new plant and
machinery.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

CULTURE
The variability in anthropometric dimensions
due to national and cultural differences may not
all be as dramatic as the difference in some
culture.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

OCCUPATION
Differences in body size and proportion among
occupational groups are common and are fairly
well known.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

OCCUPATION
e.g. Many body dimensions of a manual laborer are on
average larger than those of an academician.

however, such differences may also be related to

age, diet, exercise or many other factors, as well as
the result of selection criteria designated by specific
occupations.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

OCCUPATION
Whatever the reasons for the differences, however,
anthropometric variability in different occupations
must be realized so that appropriate environments
can be designed for the occupation and before
anthropometric data obtained from members of one
occupation can be used to design the environments
of another.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SECULAR (HISTORICAL) TRENDS

Many people have observed that the equipment used
in earlier years would too small for effective use
today.
Such observations imply that the average size of the
population increases over time, perhaps because of
better diet and living conditions.
If true, the results would have important implications
for the design of an environment that is to survive for
some time.
Sources of Anthropometric Variability

SECULAR (HISTORICAL) TRENDS

If we are getting taller, for example, then the design
might need to take account of the statures of future
generations as well as present-day users.
END
 QUIZ 1
1. If we are getting taller, for example, then the design might
need to take account of the statures of future generations
as well as present-day users.