Paper 11.174

Y.-A. Lee and S.-M. Park, "Comparative Analysis between 3D Visual Fit and Wearers' Subjective Acceptability", in Proc. of 2nd Int. Conf. on 3D Body Scanning Technologies, Lugano, Switzerland, 2011, pp. 174-184, https://doi.org/10.15221/11.174.

Title:

Comparative Analysis between 3D Visual Fit and Wearers' Subjective Acceptability

Authors:

Young-A LEE 1, Sun-Mi PARK 2

1 Iowa State University, Ames (IA), USA;
2 Konkuk University, Seoul, South Korea

Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to evaluate pants fit of current firefighter gear through 3D visual fit analysis in various active positions to determine ways for improving firefighter gear. Ten male firefighters were recruited through contacting fire stations in Midwestern cities of the United States. Each participant wore his own firefighter gear for the study. Participants were scanned wearing their firefighting pants and in form fitted clothing in two different positions (i.e., standing upright and stretching a bent right leg forward) using a [TC]2 white-light NX-16 3D body scanner. In addition, each completed a wearer acceptability survey. Survey items related to the gear fit, mobility, comfort level, and demographic information, including height and weight. Visual analysis of 3D scan data was completed using Rapidform 2006 software, a 3D modeling program. Scanned images of the firefighter in each position, both in form fitted clothing and wearing turnout pants, were overlapped to determine the ease between the pants and the body. Cross-sectional profiles at the knee, thigh, and crotch levels were taken for data analysis, and the distance between the pants and human body was measured for each participant in the two different positions. Survey results revealed that firefighters were uncomfortable with their current gear due to poor fit and restricted mobility. 3D visual analysis compared with the results of wearer acceptability survey showed that decreased pants ease amounts resulted in increased complaints regarding pants fit. This indicates that firefighters may need greater ease amounts in their pants to allow for proper fit and mobility. The ease variation at the crotch level was especially important for firefighters. In the standing position, the crotch ease has to be low, but when in the bending position the ease value has to increase to improve apparel fit and mobility. A relationship was identified with decreased wearer acceptability and greater participant's weight as well as shorter participant's height. This research provides fundamental information to develope firefighter gear with high wearer acceptability in ergonomic terms by quantifying sensory data such as wear acceptability into numerical data associated with ergonomic pattern designs. Further research should be conducted focusing on the gear fit in relationship with firefighter's various body shapes using this technology.

Keywords:

3d body scanning, ease, fit, firefighter gear

Details:

Full paper: 11.174.pdf
Proceedings: 3DBST 2011, 25-26 Oct. 2011, Lugano, Switzerland
Pages: 174-184
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15221/11.174

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