50 years design engineering anthropometry, an overview

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  • June 11, 2026
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IEA webinar: 16 July, 2026, at 15:00 UTC The Technical Committee on Anthropometry Webinar Series Duration: 60 mins, including time for discussion This presentation provides a retrospective overview of the evolution of anthropometry in design engineering over the past five decades. Beginning with the speaker’s experience learning traditional one-dimensional (1D) anthropometry from body dimension tables

IEA webinar: 16 July, 2026, at 15:00 UTC

The Technical Committee on Anthropometry Webinar Series

Duration: 60 mins, including time for discussion

This presentation provides a retrospective overview of the evolution of anthropometry in design engineering over the past five decades. Beginning with the speaker’s experience learning traditional one-dimensional (1D) anthropometry from body dimension tables of U.S. flying personnel collected in 1954, the talk traces the field’s progression toward modern multidimensional approaches.

The presentation will highlight advances from static linear measurements to 4D representations of moving bodies and emerging 5D concepts that consider body shape modification under pressure and human-product interaction. Through this historical perspective, the speaker will reflect on how evolving technologies have expanded the application of anthropometry in engineering and ergonomics.

Presenter:

Johan Molenbroek, Ph.D., Former Associate Professor of Applied Ergonomics and Design, Delft University of Technology

With a background in mechanical engineering from Saxion University of Applied Sciences, 1974, and biomedical engineering from the University of Twente, 1978, Johan earned his Ph.D. from TU Delft in 1994. He served as Assistant Professor and later Associate Professor in Physical Ergonomics and Industrial Design Engineering, specializing in anthropometry, inclusive design, product safety, and sports equipment.

He is the founder of DINED, a free anthropometric information system, and co-founder of the WEAR group, focused on 3D anthropometry. He has led international projects such as the EU Friendly Restroom Project and served as a consultant and Ph.D. supervisor for Roger Ball, who led the SizeChina project involving 3D scans of 2,000 Chinese heads.

Johan was Editor-in-Chief of The Open Ergonomics Journal from 2009 to 2017 and President of the Dutch Ergonomics Society from 2003 to 2011.

His research has focused on RSI prevention, 3D anthropometric data, and gerontechnology. He has supervised more than 300 MSc students and published over 200 scientific papers, with an h-index of 22. Retired since 2016, he remains active in research.

Webinar Chairs:

  • Hyegjoo E. Choi-Rokas, PhD. Engineering Psychologist | Applied Ergonomics Branch | U.S. ARMY DEVCOM Soldier Center, Natick, MA 01760 | U.S. delegate for ISO/TC 159/SC 3/WG1 Anthropometry
  • Sandra Alemany Mut, Ph.D. Anthropometry Research Group | INSTITUTO DE BIOMECÁNICA, València, Spain |Founding Member of World Engineering Anthropometry Resource (WEAR) | Delegate for CEN/TC 122/WG 1  Anthropometry.

Zoom Registration:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_BeRsbDDVTB2b0zS7gZ4PSQ

Registration is free to all interested people. The webinar will be recorded and published on YouTube. Registration permits live interaction with the presenters via Q&A. Additionally, participants who participate online will receive an invitation to a short survey, which, if they complete it correctly, will receive a certificate of attendance.

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