An object-oriented anthropometric database for developing a man model

Abstract

An object-oriented anthropometric database was developed as a framework for integrating into an ergonomic man model, data for workplace modelling and ergonomic evaluation functions as well as basic anthropometric data required to construct a man model. In order to develop an ergonomic man model representing operators that interact with their working environments, not only anthropometric data but also efficient handling of such data and accurate representation of the workplace are needed as a prerequisite to proper ergonomic evaluation. In this paper, these distinct sets of data were incorporated into a common integrated database needed for the manipulation of an ergonomic man model and the generation of an anthropometric man itself. An object-oriented database scheme that possesses the property of hierarchical structure and set-valued attribute was employed for the design of the database to achieve flexibility and expandability, and to efficiently interface to any CAD system. UniSQL/X, an object-oriented database management system and the X-window system on a SPARC workstation were used for implementation. The ergonomic man model generated from the object-oriented database is found to demonstrate great flexibility, performance, and improved user-interface, when compared with existing ergonomic interface models or ergonomic CAD systems.