Digitally measuring the human body in 3D has become a valuable tool in sectors such as textiles and footwear, in which new types of products like clothing, accessories and custom shoes are being developed. This in turn is leading to innovation in products, services and business models based on 3D anthropometry of people around the world.
Last week, the Biomechanics Institute of Valencia (IBV) became the world hub for technologies and methodologies used globally for scanning the human body in 3D.
Specifically, the Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineering (IEEE) carried out a five-day comparative study where up to eight different measurement methods and applications were analysed. A total of 27 professionals from 8 countries and 14 companies participated in this analysis, in which 72 subjects (50% men and 50% women) were measured. Simultaneously, the technical sportswear firm Lurbel and the American companies Gneiss Concept and Kalypso collaborated as sponsors of this event.
This was the second part of a broader study currently being carried out by the IEEE IC-3DBP group, responsible for standardising processing tools for the human body.
Under the title Past, present and future of 3D scanning of the human body, various technologies such as traditional anthropometric methods (past), 3D scanners (present) and new scanning Apps for smartphones (future) were evaluated.
From an analysis of the data obtained, the study will allow for determining compatibility between body measurements performed using each of the measurement techniques and then generate new knowledge to reach high-quality 3D metrics for the human body.
Pioneering anthropometry and 3D modelling
IEEE is the world’s leading professional association for new technology in this area, dedicated to promoting technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity.
The association entrusted this collaborative study to Valencia’s IBV, as a pioneer in the field, and this technology centre has also been designated as the processor for all the data obtained. Specifically, IBV is a worldwide reference in anthropometry and 3D modelling of the human body.
IBV develops knowledge and solutions that accelerate the process of digitalising metrics and human forms and their integration in industry to generate innovative products, services and business models.
As an example, thanks to the development of mathematical models from large anthropometric databases generated by IBV since 1994 and Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence tools, the centre has been successful in generating technology for accurate, automatic 3D scanning of the body or foot, using only a few photos taken by a mobile device.
Thus, IBV has developed a series of applications such as 3D Avatar Feet for foot scanning and 3D Avatar Body for full body scanning, which are both highly useful for developing shoe size and clothing recommendation systems that solve current product return problems in e-commerce while helping to support new product customisation businesses.
In summary, IBV continues their efforts to transfer all of their knowledge and expertise in this field to concerned companies, incorporating all the advances and results from research, such the collaborative study performed at its facilities in Valencia.
