A pilot evaluation of CAD-based 3D body-scan anthropometry for electrode-referenced measurements in smart clothing

This pilot study evaluates the reliability and systematic bias of CAD-based 3D body-scan anthropometry (3DM) for electrode-referenced measurements in smart clothing applications. Anthropometric data from 24 male participants were obtained using both manual measurement (MM) and CAD-based analysis of 3D scan data across five dimensions relevant to EMG-enabled garments. Reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and agreement was examined through Bland–Altman analysis. The results demonstrated excellent reliability for all measurements (ICC > 0.9), indicating strong consistency between MM and 3DM. However, systematic biases were observed: 3DM underestimated biacromion length, primarily due to standardized scanning posture, and overestimated waist circumference, reflecting the absence of soft-tissue compression in non-contact scanning. In contrast, short surface paths between anatomical landmarks and electrode sites exhibited minimal bias and high agreement. These findings suggest that while CAD-based 3D scan anthropometry provides stable and reproducible electrode-referenced measurements, certain dimensions require careful interpretation due to posture- and curvature-related effects. This methodological evaluation establishes a foundation for the informed use of 3D scan–derived anthropometric data in future smart clothing and wearable system development.