An Introduction to the Special Issue on Digital Human Modeling (DHM) in Ergonomics 4.0

Abstract

Welcome to this special issue of the IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors! Our primary motivations in developing this issue were the emerging concepts of Ergonomics 4.0 and 5.0 in Human Factors and Ergonomics within the wider frameworks of Industry 4.0 and 5.0; specifically, clarifying their paradigms and contributing to the understanding of how, and if, digital human modeling plays a role in these concepts. Papers for this special issue mostly originated in the Digital Human Modeling and Simulation (DHMS) track at the International Ergonomics Association (IEA) triennial world congress in Vancouver, Canada (IEA2021). The aim of the DHMS sessions at this congress was to present the latest developments in DHM with a focus on the conference theme, “HFE in a Connected World – L’ergonomie 4.0.” Participants at IEA2021 were able to make shortened submissions to the conference in view of an expression of interest for a full paper submission to this special issue. The IEA DHMS scientific committee members then invited selected authors to make such a submission to this special issue. A formal review process was conducted for all submissions, consistent with policies and procedures employed by the IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors. Since two of the current guest editors were involved in one or more of the papers submitted, we adopted specific procedures employed that ensured a fair review process. First, editors were not involved in any aspect of the review process or decisions for the papers on which they were an author. Second, we relied in large part on the authors of submitted papers to IEA2021 to review other submissions. Third, and given the relatively small DHMS community, we were careful to ensure that reviewers were independent of the authors/teams involved in the papers they reviewed. Finally, no reviewers were solicited from among employees of DHM developers to avoid potential conflicts of interest.