Ergonomic Design Tools Based on
Human Work Activities, 3D Human
Models and Social Interaction
Simulation
Carla Guimaraes b, Flavia Pastura Maria Cristina Zamberlan
Venetia Santos Jose Luiz
Oliveira Rodrigo Teixeira Gloria Cid Alessandra Paranhos
Denise Batista Riberta
Cury
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Instituto Naciona1 de Tecno1ogia a
Av. Venezuela, 82 Anexo IV, Terreo, Rio de Janeiro
RJ, 20081310, Brasil
Centro Universitario P1inio Leite b
Av. Visconde de Rio Branco, 123
Niteroi, RJ, 24000000 Brasil
Based on our experience in the development of ergonomic studies, we have developed a methodology for
work conditions ergonomic design that involves three stages: reference situations diagnosis and
recommendations; establishing an ergonomic design concept and evaluation of the new work condition.
The goal of this paper is to present the developed tools and its implementation on each stage of that
methodology: the Reference Human Activities Database tool (see fig. 1) - that is applied to the workrelated situations diagnosis to store and organize the collected data of the reference situations; the 3D
Human Models Database tool (see fig. 2 and 3) - that is applied to work conditions design. That tool
includes scanned people on functional postures wearing working apparel and safety equipment and also
scanned people on standard postures for animation; the 3D Prototyped Models tool (see fig. 4 and 5), for
design analysis - 3D models of workers, equipment and tools built from 3D laser scanning files and
proto typing technologies. These models save the worker anthropometrical proportions and allow selfidentification. It also makes it easier for the interaction between workers, managers and people involved
in the design concept; The Social Interaction Simulator tool (fig. 5 and 6) for social interaction simulation
in complex work environments. The 3D human models integrated to dynamic virtual scenarios based on
real work situations allow close to reality simulations that show the interactions between different agents
in a realistic way. These tools help to define ergonomic design technical specifications and help to
enhance an ergonomic methodology applied to work conditions design problem.
The ergonomic design concept is a set of references that should be established in the very first beginning
of a new work condition design that defines future work. These ergonomic references give input to work
and learning process evolution, work environment design - architectural and layout - and informational
and interface devices design, to mention some (Santos e Zamberlan,
1995). These references can be
presented
as architectural
drawings, 3D electronic models and ergonomIc standards that should be
adopted by the design team. The ergonomic design helps to define the future work condition concept with
respect to human intervention. That guarantees that the design concept match users variability and work
performance variability in different use contexts.
Based on our experience in the development of ergonomic studies, we have developed a methodology for
work conditions
ergonomic
design that involves
three stages: reference
situations
diagnosis
and
recommendations;
establishing an ergonomic design concept and evaluation of the new work condition
(Santos e Zamberlan, 2009).
The goal of this paper is to present the developed tools and its implementation
methodology:
the Reference
on each stage of that
Human Activities Database tool - that is applied to the work-related
situations diagnosis; the 3D Human Models Database tool- that is applied to work conditions design; the
3D Proto typed Models tool for design analysis and The Social Interaction Simulator tool for social
interaction simulation in complex work environments.
•
Reference situations diagnosis and recommendations
Ergonomics methodology is capable of accomplishing work condition diagnosis, work activity evaluation
and to generate work activity references to be used at new work condition design. The ergonomic work
analysis is the central point of the interaction studies between workers and their work conditions. That
means to conduct a work activity evaluation considering, at the same time, people characteristics, work
environment components and how these components are presented and perceived by workers.
Based on our experience in ergonomic analysis and design, we verified that human activity at work are
not clearly seen by engineers and managers involved with the company transformation
- extremely
desired considering that it is necessary to buy new technologies, to contract people and to develop new
projects.
In order to help new work condition design and to create conditions to implement synergy through the
human work transformation process we developed the Reference Human Activities Database tool (see fig.
1). That tool is applied to work condition diagnosis phase to store, organize and cross the resultant data
from existing situation diagnosis and can be accessed by managers and design teams, training people and
customers service in such a way that the human work activity can be seen by everyone.
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Figure. 1. Reference Human Activities Database tool - to store, organize and cross the resultant data from
existing situation diagnosis
From the work condition diagnosis and the ergonomic design recommendations
conjunction
it
IS
important to,
III
with the workers and the design team, create the design solutions. To help the design
discussion it can be used 3D digital and physical models of the work environment, furniture, equipments
and tools and also 3D digital and physical human models. These models help to understand
the
architectural and layout solutions proposed. The 3D Human Models Database tool (see fig. 2 and.3) andThe 3D Prototyped Models tool for design analysis (see figA and 5) help to democratize the design
discussion.
The 3D Human Models Database tool showed above is applied to work conditions design. That tool
includes scanned people on functional postures wearing working apparel and safety equipment and also
scanned people on standard postures for animation.
Figure. 4 and Figure 5 - The 3D Prototyped Models tool for design analysis 3D models of workers,
equipment and tools built from 3D laser scanning files and prototyping technologies.
The 3D Prototyped Models tool is applied to design analysis (figA and 5). These models save the worker
anthropometrical
proportions
and allow self-identification.
It also makes it easier for the interaction
between workers, managers and people involved in the design concept;
From the data stored and organized on the Reference Human Activities Database tool we can create
virtual simulations of the work human activity in such a way that it is possible to evaluate new work
organization solutions and work environment.
The Social Interaction
Simulator
tool, showed below, was developed
to study social interaction
simulation in complex work environments. The 3D human models integrated to dynamic virtual scenarios
based on real work situations allow close to reality simulations that show the interactions between
different agents in a realistic way (see fig. 5 and 6).
Figure. 5 and Figure 6.- Social Interaction Simulator tool for social interaction simulation study in complex
work environments
These tools are still on going tests and not intended to be a complete solution but alternatives tools to help
develop an ergonomic design concept. These tools can help to define ergonomic design technical
specifications and help to enhance an ergonomic methodology applied to work conditions design
problem.
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