Objectives: This study developed multivariate law enforcement officer (LEO) body models for digital simulation of LEO accommodation in police cruiser cabs.
Background: Anthropometrically accurate digital LEO body models, representing the United States LEOs, for computerized LEO cruiser interface simulations are lacking.
Methods: Twenty body dimensions (with and without gear combined) of 756 male and 218 female LEOs were collected through a stratified national survey using a data collection trailer that traveled across the US. A multivariate Principal Component Analysis (PCA) approach was used to develop digital LEO body models.
Results: Fifteen men and 15 women representing unique body size and shape composition of the LEO population were identified. A combined set of 24 male and female models (removal of 6 redundant models for which female and male models overlapped) is suggested.
Conclusions: A set of 24 digital LEO body models in 3-dimensional form, along with their anthropometric measurements, were developed to facilitate LEO cruiser cab design.
Application: Digital modeling software developers can use the models and their anthropometric data to build digital avatars for simulated evaluation of LEO cruiser cab configuration, console communication-equipment fitting, and cruiser ingress/egress access arrangement. LEO vehicle and equipment designers also can use eight key body dimensions (i.e., stature, buttock-popliteal length, eye height sitting, knee height sitting, shoulder-grip length, popliteal height, sitting height, and body weight) of the body models to recruit 24 human subjects to physically evaluate their vehicle prototypes for improved vehicle and equipment design.
Keywords: body size; digital modeling; diversity and inclusion; police; simulation.