3D Motion-based Ergonomic and Body Posture Analysis in Construction

Abstract

The construction manufacturing industry in North America has a disproportionately high number of lost-time injuries due to the higher physical demand of labour-intensive tasks. It is thus essential to investigate the physical demands of body movement in the workplace in order to identify worker exposure to ergonomic risk. This paper presents a methodology for converting video-captured body movements in an actual manufacturing plant into 3D virtual animations for ergonomic risk analysis. Through 3D virtual animation, dynamic human body data can be obtained (such as joint angles) for body posture risk assessment analysis using existing risk assessment algorithms. The presented framework enables body motion risk identification by detecting awkward body postures, evaluating handled force/load and frequency that cause ergonomic risk during body movements of workers. The capability of the 3D modelling can be extended to support the re-design of the workplace and optimization of human body movement accordingly in order to mitigate ergonomic risk. The methodology is implemented in a case study in order to analyze operational tasks in manufacturing plants. Modified work recommendations are expected as a result of this systematic 3D ergonomic analysis which will further reduce potential injuries and workersäó» compensation insurance costs in the long term.