Body Models of Law Enforcement Officers for Cruiser Cab Accommodation Simulation

• Published in: Human factors Vol. 66; no. 5; pp. 1350 - 1386
• Main Authors: Hsiao, Hongwei, Kau, Tsui Ying, Whisler, Richard, Zwiener, Joyce
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.05.2024; Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Subjects: Accommodation; Anthropometry; Avatars; Body height; Body size; Body Weight; Communications equipment; Data collection; Design; Digital simulation; Female; Females; Height; Humans; Law enforcement; Male; Multivariate analysis; Police; Principal components analysis; Software development; Taxicabs; Three dimensional models; United States; United States; United States > US; body size; police; digital modeling; simulation; diversity and inclusion
• DOI: 10.1177/00187208221140220
• ISSN: 0018-7208; 1547-8181

Objectives This study developed multivariate law enforcement officer (LEO) body models for digital simulation of LEO accommodation in police cruiser cabs. Background Anthropometrically accurate digital LEO body models, representing the United States LEOs, for computerized LEO cruiser interface simulations are lacking. Methods Twenty body dimensions (with and without gear combined) of 756 male and 218 female LEOs were collected through a stratified national survey using a data collection trailer that traveled across the US. A multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach was used to develop digital LEO body models. Results Fifteen men and 15 women representing unique body size and shape composition of the LEO population were identified. A combined set of 24 male and female models (removal of 6 redundant models for which female and male models overlapped) is suggested. Conclusions A set of 24 digital LEO body models in 3-dimensional form, along with their anthropometric measurements, were developed to facilitate LEO cruiser cab design. Application Digital modeling software developers can use the models and their anthropometric data to build digital avatars for simulated evaluation of LEO cruiser cab configuration, console communication-equipment fitting, and cruiser ingress/egress access arrangement. LEO vehicle and equipment designers also can use eight key body dimensions (i.e., stature, buttock-popliteal length, eye height sitting, knee height sitting, shoulder-grip length, popliteal height, sitting height, and body weight) of the body models to recruit 24 human subjects to physically evaluate their vehicle prototypes for improved vehicle and equipment design.