Comparative Consistency of Univariate Measures from Traditional and 3-D Scan Anthropometry

Traditional and three-dimensional (3-D) scan tools capture anthropometric information in different ways. It is not surprising that measurements from each can have different values. Some possible reasons for differences are tissue compression when using traditional tools, and the difficulty of precise replication of traditional measures using computer algorithms. Even with precise replication of traditional methods, there may be consistent differences in magnitude that can be compensated for.

Once compensation factors have been determined, people who have only traditional tools available can also use measurements extracted from 3-D scan data, and people who use 3-D scans can relate extracted measurements to historical data. With adjustments, the results of either method can be used interchangeably.

This research compares the consistency of traditional and 3-D scan anthropometry for a small set of traditional univariate measures. It also examines the agreement between the two methodologies when they are adjusted by the mean difference. The intent is to better understand the sources of difference between measures and to begin developing a general technique for creating algorithms that produce similar results between traditional and scan methods.