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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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TITLE: Digital Human Simulations for Analysis and Design of Workspaces
SPEAKER: Dr. Don B. Chaffin
ABSTRACT:
This talk will review various past and present attempts within the UM Human Motion Simulation Laboratory to model and predict how demographically defined groups of people reach and move about in simulated work settings. Research results will be illustrated with a case study from the US Army, that combines both behavioral based kinematics models with biomechanical models of workers. Future challenges and opportunities in the field of digital human modeling will be discussed.
Bio:
Dr. Chaffin is the R.G. Snyder Distinguished University Professor (Emeritus) in Industrial and Operations Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan. Dr. Chaffin received his BS in Industrial Engineering from GMI (now Kettering University) in 1962, his MS in IE from the University of Toledo in 1964, and his PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Michigan in 1967. He served as Assistant Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Kansas Medical Center during 1967-1968, returning to the University of Michigan as Assistant Professor of Industrial Engineering, rising to Professor of Industrial Engineering in 1973, and Professor of Occupational Health in the School of Public Health in 1982.
Dr. Chaffin has served as Chair of the Department of Industrial and Operations Engineering from 1977 to 1981, and Director of the Center for Ergonomics from 1981 to 1998. He has Chaired or been a Co-chair of 40 PhD Dissertation Committees. His research has resulted in six books, over 140 peer reviewed journal articles, and over 300 Proceedings, book chapters and reports. He and his graduate students and staff have developed a set of widely used software programs to assist engineers who are involved in designing workplaces and vehicles to accommodate various groups of people,and to assure that people do not suffer overexertion injuries during the performance of manual tasks of all kinds. In 1998 he founded and directed the Human Motion Simulation Laboratory in the Center for Ergonomics until his retirement in 2007. His work has resulted in his election to Fellow status in seven different international, professional and scientific
organizations, including the Society for Automotive Engineering, American Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Human Factors and Ergonomics Society, Ergonomics Society (Great Britain), American Society of Biomechanics, American Industrial Hygiene Association, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science. He has received many national and international awards for his teaching, research and service, including being elected to membership in the prestigious US National Academy of Engineering in 1994. In 2008 he received the National Engineering Award from the American Association of Engineering Societies, for his lifetime achievements and leadership in the field of ergonomics. He currently serves
on several advisory boards for the National Academy of Sciences.
