A new IBV virtual simulation tool will allow the development of more ergonomic work environments

VALENCIA, 21 Dec. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Institute of Biomechanics (IBV) carries out the 'Desium' project, financed by the Valencian Institute of Business Competitiveness (IVACE) and by the European Union, whose objective focuses on the development of a virtual simulation tool for the analysis and the evaluation of the interaction between people and the products, services and environments that surround them.

Through realistic simulations it is possible to ergonomically evaluate environments and products during the different stages of the design process, from conception to final design. In this way, errors can be detected in the initial phases of the design of a product or environment to adapt them to people, allowing them to be corrected in time virtually and saving costs on physical prototypes and future redesigns. Furthermore, it is possible to maximize performance and/or comfort depending on the context of application.

The IBV emphasizes that adapting work environments to the characteristics of workers is "key" to maximizing productivity and reducing injuries and errors. The importance of putting the human being at the center of the design is especially evident in those jobs where there is a high interaction on the part of the worker with the elements present.

This is the case, for example, of work environments where there are elements of industrial machinery and manual tools, which in most cases have not been designed taking into account the variability of the working population that occupies these positions.

The director of innovation in Occupational Health and Wellbeing at IBV, Mercedes Sanchis, declares that "the use of new technologies in the work environment offers a great opportunity for companies to evaluate and design more ergonomic and efficient work environments."

To develop this new virtual simulation solution, it has been necessary to combine knowledge from different specialties such as biomechanics, 3D anthropometry and ergonomics, as well as develop specific algorithms for the generation of functional digital human models. In addition, specific tools have been incorporated that allow aspects such as postural comfort, visibility or accessibility of environments to be evaluated.

With the purpose of being a "versatile and applicable in multiple sectors" tool, leading companies in the ceramic, metallurgical and construction sectors such as Factor Ingeniería y Decoletaje, Torrescamara, Colorobbia and Keraben Grupo have collaborated in the research.

Through business collaboration, it has been possible to identify the specific needs of different sectors in relation to aspects of ergonomic evaluation and human factors of different types of work environments.

Subsequently, the jobs have been recreated virtually and digital human models representative of the workers have been included. In this way, it has been possible to realistically simulate the interactions that occur with the elements in the workplace. Thanks to these simulations, ergonomic risk can be evaluated and personalized improvement recommendations can be established to promote comfort, safety and productivity.

Unimat Prevention, the Valencia Metallurgical Business Federation (Femeval), the Valencian Federation of Construction Employers (FEVEC) and the Business Confederation of the Valencian Community (CEV) have also collaborated in the project. Likewise, the CoMMLab research department of the University of Valencia has participated in the optimization of the simulations to better understand the interaction that exists between people and their environment.