REPORT | New Zealand Defence Force Anthropometry Survey 2016-2018: Final Report
Abstract
For over a decade, there has been an increasing demand for NZDF body size data. However, the New Zealand Defence Force has never had an accurate and comprehensive tri-service anthropometric (body size) database. In response, the Defence Technology Agency or DTA (now called ‘Defence Science and Technology’ or DST) conducted the New Zealand Defence Force Anthropometry Survey (NZDFAS). The aim of this survey was to gather comprehensive anthropometric data to develop an NZDF body scan and measurement database. The NZDFAS will inform NZDF system specifications, design, development and evaluation, and address human systems integration and human performance and health queries. This report describes the methods used to collect 85 manual (traditional anthropometry) and digital anthropometric measurements, on 1,000 NZDF Regular Force personnel (21% female, 79% male), between March 2016 and June 2018. The report also presents the normative summary statistics for each measure. The data is currently being used by the NZDF and data can be accessed through the DST Human Sciences Programme.