A body of evidence
The
Australian Defence Force and a consortium led by the University of South
Australia are embarking on one of the biggest projects in the world today to
collect data about body dimensions.
The database will be used to improve recruitment strategies for pilots and aircrew, increase pilot safety and advise on cockpit design for in the Royal Australian Air Force aircraft.
The project employs Australia’s most sophisticated scanning and computer technology (using the Vitus Smart Scanner) and involves the scanning of 2000 volunteers from around Australia between the ages of 18 and 30 in all their shapes and sizes. Other equipment will be used to scan the range of Australian Defence Force aircraft and helicopter cockpits.
Project Director and world renowned authority in anthropometry (the measurement of the size and proportions of the human body) , UniSA’s Dr Tim Olds, says the project will ensure Australian researchers build the most up-to-date body dimension database for this age group in the world today.
“The last major survey of this kind was done manually and dates back to the 1970s, so this is an exciting partnership with the Australian Defence Force and one which we believe will be of enormous benefit for them in improving recruitment, aircrew safety and the potential for cost savings for the forces,” Dr Olds said.
“What we will gather is a much clearer picture of the clusters of body shapes that normally appear in the population group most likely to be serving in the Australian Defence Force.
"The project also provides social spin-offs beyond military applications. For example, the techniques used and data gathered may be used to improve clothing sizes."
UniSA is managing the project and conducting body scanning, with consortium members from the Australian Sports Commission providing anthropometry support, Sinclair Knight Merz undertaking crew station scanning and project management assistance, and the University of Ballarat providing mathematical modelling and software development.
The first body scanning was undertaken in Adelaide during August and September and the 350 kilo demountable scanner is now on the road to Sydney, Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Perth.
Director General of the Defence Health Services, Air Commodore Tony Austin, said the information gathered would provide an invaluable resource for the Australian Defence Force and may have wide reaching applications for future recruitment, safety and design projects.
“The Australian Defence Force can develop recruitment and training strategies that ensure people are right physiologically for the tasks they have to perform – it will mean that pilots and crew will have better fit, manoeuvrability and safety in all aircraft, from jets to large surveillance aircraft,” Air Commodore Austin said.
Dr Olds said the information gathered would provide an invaluable resource for the Australian Defence Force and one which may have wide reaching applications for future recruitment, safety and design projects.
More information can be found at UniSA's Centre for Applied Anthropometry