Modeling spatial interaction through full-scale modeling

As conventionally practiced, anthropometry leaves some significant gaps in our knowledge about how people with disabilities interact with their environment. In particular, most environmental design for this group focuses on specific and unique body movements and postures in and around constrained spaces. The data provided by conventional anthropometry cannot always be applied directly to these problems. Structural measurements are not sufficient to understand how the body moves in space. And even functional measurements, like reach envelope data, do not provide information on the adaptations people make when interacting with space or their psychological response to the level of adaptation required. Studying spatial interaction using full-scale models can be used to measure functional abilities in context and obtain data on outcomes, i.e. measures of successful fit between environment and a person's abilities. A full-scale modeling study of 24 adult females with mobility impairments is described to demonstrate how the approach can be used to supplement traditional anthropometric studies to help improve the fit between person and environment.