Anthropometric dataset for the German working-age population using 3D body scans from a regional epidemiological health study and a weighting algorithm

Ergonomics. 2023 Aug;66(8):1057-1071. doi: 10.1080/00140139.2022.2130440. Epub 2022 Nov 4.

Abstract

For the ergonomic design of workplaces and products, a representative anthropometric dataset of the working-age population is needed. As body proportions are constantly changing and the latest publicly available dataset for Germany was published in 2004 (data collection period 1999-2002), the aim of this study was to create and publish an updated anthropometric dataset of the German working-age population. Within a regional epidemiological health study, 3D body scan data from 2313 subjects were collected and used to create an anthropometric dataset with a total of 39 ISO 7250-1 measures. To approximate the goal of generating representative values for Germany, the collected regional dataset was weighted with an algorithm, using values from a known nationally representative survey. Based on the weighted dataset, a gender stratified percentile table with values for the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile was calculated. Practitioner summary: Body proportions are constantly changing and the latest publicly available anthropometric dataset for Germany was published in 2004. A new dataset was created, using 3D body scans from an epidemiological health study and a weighting algorithm. Ultimately, percentile tables with values for the 5th, 50th, and 95th percentile are published.

Keywords: Anthropometry; data weighting; occupational safety and health; survey methodology.

MeSH terms

  • Algorithms*
  • Anthropometry
  • Germany / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Surveys and Questionnaires