Construction of a knowledge base for ergonomic design with human models

In order to economically evaluate products and workplaces from the early stage of design, it is essential to provide the designer with a variety of design and evaluation means. In Korea, incorporation of ergonomic design and evaluation into the computer-aided design process of product development in industry has been in great need. A number of ergonomic design models have been developed and are currently in use. Evaluation functions embedded in those models are, however, based mostly on predictive algorithms such as reach and visibility tests, whereas numerous ergonomic guidelines which constitute a major part of design knowledge have been rarely accommodated to such models. In this research, a knowledge base was constructed to expand the scope of ergonomic evaluation being made through those models. First, a new framework based on an object-oriented database for the model was suggested from the developer's standpoint. Second, the knowledge modeling was done based on the definition through the object-oriented database. Finally, the knowledge base was implemented in the prototype design model that enables to evaluate design alternatives, interactively. It is expected that the knowledge base proposed would lessen the burden of designers through efficient evaluations from the early stage of design.