Measurement of Human Body Segment Properties Using Low-Cost RGB-D Cameras.

Area of Science:

• Biomechanics
• Human body modeling
• Anthropometry

Background:

• Accurate estimation of human body segment volume and mass is crucial for biomechanical modeling.
• Traditional methods like anthropometric tables and manual measurements have limitations in accuracy and efficiency.
• There is a need for improved, non-invasive techniques for body segment parameterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for accurate estimation of human body segment volume and mass using 3D scanning.
• To compare the proposed method against traditional techniques and assess its accuracy.
• To introduce a new indicator for body segment dimensions and highlight gender-specific modeling needs.

Main Methods:

• Acquisition of 3D body scans using a consumer-end RGB-D camera.
• Body segment separation by combining BlazePose skeleton estimation with a literature-defined biomechanical skeletal model.
• Volume computation for each body segment using a 3D Monte Carlo procedure.

Main Results:

• The proposed 3D scanning method demonstrated good adherence to reference data, with minimal differences compared to manual measurements, anthropometric tables, and truncated cone models.
• Specific volume differences ranged from +0.5 to -1.0 dm³ for upper limbs, -0.1 to -4.2 dm³ for thighs, and -0.4 to -2.3 dm³ for shanks.
• A novel indicator based on equivalent diameters was proposed, emphasizing the need for gender-specific models for female chest and pelvis regions.

Conclusions:

• The novel 3D scanning method provides an accurate and efficient approach for estimating human body segment volume and mass.
• This method offers a significant improvement over traditional techniques for biomechanical modeling.
• The findings underscore the importance of incorporating gender-specific anatomical differences into biomechanical models.