TAMU-CC HF&E Lab

Human Factors and Ergonomics Lab (HF&E Lab), directed by Dr. Jangwoon Park, investigates how physical and cognitive ergonomics can be jointly optimized to improve human performance, comfort, and safety in complex system environments. Our mission is to advance human-centered design through empirical research, digital twin modeling, and interdisciplinary engineering applications across the automotive, healthcare, and industrial domains. We develop integrated design methodologies that connect experimental ergonomics, sensing, and computational modeling to create products and environments that respond intelligently to human needs. Our research program spans three primary areas:

1. Vehicle Seat Design and Thermal Comfort Optimization (📄 [Research Presentation PDF])

We study how drivers and passengers physically interact with vehicle seats to achieve optimal comfort and safety. By combining 3D anthropometry, thermal sensing, and pressure mapping, our team develops predictive models that link seat geometry, occupant posture, and perceived comfort. Through long-term collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company, the lab has pioneered objective evaluation systems for seat fit, thermal comfort, and human–seat interaction, enabling the next generation of adaptive and intelligent seating systems.

2. Anthropometric Design and Human Variability Modeling (📄 [Research Presentation PDF])

Our lab integrates large-scale 3D body-shape data into the design of wearable products, protective gear, and inclusive built environments. As part of the national YouthShape.US project with the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI), we are constructing a comprehensive anthropometric database for Hispanic youth (age from 3 to 17 years). This work enhances design inclusivity and supports the creation of customizable, data-driven ergonomic standards across multiple industries.

3. Control Room Design for Safety-Critical Systems

We explore how human–machine interfaces (HMI) affect cognitive workload, decision-making, and error in safety-critical operations such as pipeline control rooms. Our ongoing U.S. Department of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) project applies functional digital twin technologies to optimize control room design and mitigate human error in the oil and gas midstream sector. These insights extend to operating room workflow design, where ergonomic layout and perceptual feedback systems are used to enhance situational awareness and team coordination.

Sponsors and Collaborators:
The Human Factors and Ergonomics (HF&E) Laboratory at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi actively collaborates with leading organizations and research institutions to advance human-centered system design and safety research.

Current partners and sponsors include:

Hyundai Motor Company – industry collaboration on vehicle seat comfort and thermal management research.
University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) – joint research on human anthropometry and ergonomics data analysis.
Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) – federally funded research on human-centered HMI protocol development for pipeline control rooms.