The new technology, called three-dimension body scanning, uses light projectors, optical sensors and modelling software to measure the human body and give accurate details.

The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec) has introduced the technology in Thailand to help in a sizing survey. The Size Thailand project is being conducted in association with the Department of Textile Technology at Kasetsart University.

The aim is to develop a standard database that can be used in product design for everything from clothing to car seats to fit local people.

Chularat Tanprasert, head of the Data Warehouse and Data Mining Research Unit at Nectec's High Performance Computing Centre, who also takes care of the Size Thailand Project, said the new 3D body scanning technology would speed up the survey process. Measuring by hand is time-consuming, taking around 15 minutes per person, while the new technology takes only 10 seconds.

Textile Clothing Technology, a US-based textile technology company, developed the gadget and it has been used in Britain and the United States to perform sizing surveys under the SizeUK and SizeUSA projects.

Thailand now has two 3D body scanners - one at Nectec and the other at Kasetsart University. As per plan, the team will conduct a sizing survey of at least 10,000 people around the country and the information will be stored at the national anthropomorphic database used for local industries.

In the measurement process, a subject stands and sits in an enclosed booth (equipped with 3D scanner) but has to strip down to white undergarments. Within the booth, a series of strips of white light are projected onto the subject from six projectors.

The curves of the subject's body will be captured and computer imagery produces a point cloud, a constellation of 100,000 to 200,000 points located on the body surface in three dimensions, to create a digital body. Then, the software locates points on the digital body such as shoulders, breasts, navel and so on and measures the shape automatically.

The technology will also help reduce human error and cut costs during the survey process, Chularat said.

Developing sizing standard for local people is essential, especially when it comes to mass customisation, as it helps solve the problem of non-standardised sizes among various brands.

Many people complain that the label sizes vary from brand to brand, but according to Chularat, an anthropomorphic measurement database could act as a guideline for local designers to develop products under a common sizing standard.

Other industries that can benefit from the survey include the automotive industry, aerospace, and office accessory makers.

The Size Thailand project will assist the many developers of car seats, safety belts, air bags, airplane seats, office furniture and  lounge suites,  to suit the various bodies of Thai people.

pongpen@nationgroup.com 

Pongpen Sutharoj

The Nation