In today’s world of customization and personalization, anthropometrics—the science of measuring human body dimensions—has become more essential than ever. From custom orthotic insoles to tailored apparel and precision-fitted eyewear, accurate body measurements are the foundation for designing products that truly fit.
At Structure, we’re leveraging advanced 3D body scanning technology to capture anthropometric data with unmatched precision—streamlining product development and improving customer satisfaction across the orthotics, custom footwear, and custom-fit clothing industries.
What Is Anthropometrics, and Why Is 3D Scanning the Future?
Anthropometrics traditionally relied on manual methods like calipers, measuring tapes, water tubs, or plaster molds. While these techniques have laid the groundwork, they are often time-consuming and prone to human error.
3D body scanning, on the other hand, offers a fast, non-invasive, and highly accurate alternative—capturing detailed, full-body or regional scans in seconds. The result? A scalable solution for custom apparel design, orthotic manufacturing, and eyewear fitting, all powered by precise digital measurements.
Precision in the Foot: Enhancing Custom Orthotics and Footwear Fit
When it comes to custom orthotics and tailored footwear, accuracy in foot measurements is paramount. Our latest 3D scanning advancements map critical foot landmarks in stunning detail, improving everything from insole design to arch support analysis.
Key measurement features include:
- Metatarsals: The five long bones in the midfoot region.
- The first metatarsal, linked to the big toe, is the strongest and critical for load-bearing analysis.
- The fifth metatarsal, aligned with the little toe, is more fragile and commonly associated with foot fractures.
- Heel Point: This is the first point of contact during a step, absorbing initial ground impact. Accurately identifying the heel strike location helps refine custom insole placement, enhance shock absorption, and support gait optimization.
- Navicular Drop - Difference between arch when seated and when standing. Indicates flat or rigid arch structure. Requiring two scans to compare the differences between the two states of foot loading.
These detailed scans eliminate guesswork and manual errors, resulting in superior orthotic comfort, reduced injury risk, and better foot alignment for customers seeking personalized footcare solutions.
Interpupillary Distance (IPD): A New Standard for Custom Eyewear
In the realm of custom-fit eyewear and virtual try-on solutions, precision is everything. Our latest advancement in 3D scanning enables ultra-precise measurement of Interpupillary Distance (IPD)—the distance between the centers of the pupils.
We now offer IPD capture with a remarkable ±0.05 mm accuracy, setting a new industry benchmark for:
- Prescription eyewear fittings
- Custom-designed sunglasses
- Augmented and virtual reality headsets
With accurate IPD data, eyewear retailers and optical brands can deliver perfect lens alignment, reduced eye strain, and enhanced visual comfort—all while improving customer satisfaction and reducing returns.
Facial Landmark Mapping: A Future Built on Fit
Our platform continues to refine the capture of critical facial landmarks used in custom apparel collars, headwear, and assistive device design:
- Nose Point: Used for symmetry and fit calibration in both eyewear and face-worn products.
- Ortobasion (in progress): The junction where the ear connects to the skull—important for over-ear headsets, hearing aids, and custom helmets.
As our scanning technology evolves, we’re expanding its applications into bespoke fashion, wearable tech, and digital avatar creation—unlocking a future where clothing and accessories are made to fit you, not the other way around.
The Future of Fit Is Digital
At Structure, we’re committed to making anthropometric data more accessible, accurate, and applicable across industries. Whether you're developing custom apparel, personalized footwear, or precision-fit eyewear, our 3D scanning platform delivers the measurements you need—with the accuracy today’s customers demand.
Ready to upgrade how you design for the human body?
Discover how our 3D scanning solutions Structure Capture can transform your workflow with a 1-week free trial at: https://structure.io/structure-capture/
