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Technical note | A Revised Maritime Physical Accommodation Guidance for the Royal Australian Navy

Abstract

In 2015 an Anthropometric Survey of the Royal Australian Navy (ASRAN) was conducted providing comprehensive female and male body size and shape data of the Royal Australian Navy operational workforce. That data was then developed into evidence based human factors engineering design guidance, presented in this document that can be used to tailor design solutions to optimise the fit between the RAN population and HMA Surface Ships and Submarines, and their systems, subsystems, and facilities. The main purpose of this guidance is to provide future and modified naval vessels with physical habitability requirements that reflect the physical and social needs of the personnel that use it. The end goal is to optimise performance, health and safety, quality of life, and satisfaction.

Executive Summary

In 2015 an Anthropometric Survey of the Royal Australian Navy (ASRAN) was conducted providing comprehensive digital and manual anthropometric data (body size and shape) that can be used for the design of vessels, equipment, and clothing. This document has used that data to develop evidence based human factors engineering design guidance that can be used to tailor design solutions to optimise the fit between the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) population and Her Majesty’s Australian (HMA) Surface Ships and Submarines, and their systems, subsystems, and facilities. The main purpose of this guidance is to provide future and modified naval vessel projects with physical habitability requirements that reflect the physical and social needs of the personnel that use it. The end goal is to optimise performance, health and safety, quality of life, and satisfaction. This document forms part of the ongoing Human Systems Integration advice provided to the Future Submarine Program (FSP), but also has widespread application to all RAN vessels/projects.

In preparing the requirements for this document a variety of stakeholder interviews and focus groups were conducted with the FSP, Future Frigate Program Office, Navy Technical Bureau (NTB), Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) Program, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) Engineers, and Defence Science and Technology (DST) Naval Architects. Key findings were, the requirement for information on what human factors engineering design guidance values are based on to have information on the trade space, and evidence-based quantitative information to argue for space claims. A second key requirement was for design guidance that may be more easily accommodated on conventional submarines, as human factors engineering requirements for ships can often not be accommodated within submarine space constraints.

A review of ergonomic literature, industry and defence human factors engineering standards was conducted to assist in identifying the appropriate anthropometric dimension(s) for a design object/arrangement, the required movement allowance, and additional suggested allowances such as enhancing comfort. In addition RAN secular trend (generational growth changes) data, and clothing and equipment data were incorporated into the guidance development.

The guidance developed is mainly in the areas of space claims for general postures, workstations, bunks, access and passage, mess design, ablution facilities, and showers. This guidance can be applied to the design, construction, modification, and evaluation of HMA Surface Ships and Submarines to more effectively integrate the human in the design of a vessel, system, subsystem or facility, and to inform the human engineering and physical accommodation requirements in the design trade space. Note this is a revised version of A Maritime Physical Habitability Guidance for the Royal Australian Navy [1]. The main revision changes include improved data for design objects/arrangements that require multiple anthropometric dimensions, clarity of how the values are derived, information on secular trend, and additional information on the target population to accommodate.

Future work intends to expand on human engineering requirements for design objects/arrangements that involve more dynamic movement tasks/activities such as climbing ladders and manoeuvring through hatches.

Key information

Author

Kate Ponton

Publication number

DST-Group-TR-3550

Publication type

Technical note

Publish Date

October 2018

Classification

Unclassified - public release

Keywords

Shipbuilding, Submarines, Human Factors Engineering, Human Systems Integration, Anthropometry