Overview
The UK has recently completed its National Sizing Survey (SizeUK) of 11,000 subjects using 3D whole body scanners to automatically extract 130 body measurements from each subject using two stances; standing and seated. This highly accurate size and shape data, together with each subject's 3D point cloud, is held securely in a UK anthropometrics web-database, available for online data mining. SizeUK is a collaboration of the UK Government, 17 major UK retailers, leading academics and technology companies. The retailers were responsible for recruiting subjects to be measured, with subjects being encouraged to register online. The principal UK clothing colleges managed the data collection process; seen as an educational opportunity. The USA scanner company [TC]2 developed special size extraction software to automatically extract 130 'SizeUK' measurements from a body scan, reducing manual measuring to 8 measurements, such as height and weight. Bodymetrics, a UK company, is hosting the data on a secure, web-database service accessible through proprietary online data analysis tools and has the exclusive rights to sell the data on behalf of the Retailers. The potential commercial benefits for Retail clothing brands acquiring the data are considerable (see over).
The SizeUK data is owned by the UK Retailers: Arcadia Group, BHS, Debenhams, Otto UK, Great Universal Stores, House of Fraser, John Lewis Partnership, Littlewoods Retail, Marks and Spencer, N Brown, Monsoon Accessorize, Oasis Stores, REDCATS UK, Rohan Designs, Speedo International, Tesco Stores.
Subjects, wearing underwear, were first scanned in 2 poses, standing and seated. 8-10 manual measurements, not covered by the scanning process were then taken. Each subject was asked to complete an extensive market research questionnaire which captured information on personal details, clothing issues, shopping habits and preferences, lifestyle habits including health & fitness, occupation and employment and ethnicity.
Personal details on each subject (excluding name & address)
11,000 subjects – 50 % women and 50% men
140 measurements per subject
130 electronic
8-10 manual
1,540,000 measurements in total
22,000 scans – 2 per subject
Market Research Information – 40 clothing, shopping and lifestyle sets of information
Accuracy speed and cost are the prime benefits of using automated measurement extraction. Trials have shown that automatic measurement extraction is more reliable than traditional anthropometric measuring methods. This is due, in part, to measurements being taken without physical contact and from a person in a relaxed pose. This stands in contrast with manual methods of measuring, where there is body surface contact that can lead to the compression of soft tissues; this particularly affects some girth measurements. Small differences thus can arise between measurements produced by automatic and manual techniques.
The SizeUK results are available in the form of:
Standard Data Analysis of the measurements, shape data and market research. This includes:
Tabulated statistical analysis of the Market Research Information.
Statistical analysis of the measurement information covering (for each measurement) mean, max/min and frequency which can be provided in total or cut by age, region, socio economic group or ethnicity.
3D shape analysis (models of selected population subsets) which can similarly be provided in total or cut by age, region, socio economic group or ethnicity.
Cross-correlation charts of measurements and 3D shape.
Customised Data Analysis through online access to the SizeUK database using a set of software tools. This allows users to conduct their own analysis based on a sub set of the data based on their customer profile (gender, age, region, ethnicity, socio-econ). Access will be available for up to five years.
Data Analysis Services provided by Bodymetrics. Bodymetrics offers a range of basic and advanced data analysis services for customers who would like analysis carried out on their behalf
Due to the Data Protection Act and the need to preserve Subject privacy, SizeUK Clothing companies and any third parties who purchase the results, are restricted from accessing individual ‘raw data’.
For clothing companies the data provides the potential amongst others to:
Improve the fit and specification of your garments
Optimise the efficiency of your size charts
Maximise the percentage of your target customer profile that can fit your clothes.
Increase sales by understanding the demand in certain size categories e.g. outsize, petites
Reduce size related returns
Improve buying ratios and size allocation to retail branches.
Customers first need to purchase a Data Licence giving them the right to use the SizeUK data. The level of the Data Licence Fee depends on turnover of the company. The women’s and men’s data can be purchased separately. Purchasing a Data Licence entitles the holder to the Standard Data Analysis for no additional fee.
Customers who wish to carry out customised analysis using the online tools need to pay an additional, Data Access Fee. This covers the provision of the software tools, maintenance and support.
Customers who wish to use the Bodymetrics service must have purchased a Data Licence first. Please ask for a copy of the Data Analysis Guide.
If you are interested in purchasing the data please contact Bodymetrics on 0870 0542052 or by
e -mail at info@bodymetrics.com. For further information on Bodymetrics please visit our website www.bodymetrics.com