Virtual Vehicle-safety Assessment: Open Source Human Body Models addressing gender diversity (ViVA I)

The ViVA project aim at making a contribution to increasing gender equality in society and improved safety. The results aim at stimulate the production of innovative seats designs with enhanced whiplash injury protection. The objectives of the ViVA project are to: Create an open source virtual Human Body Model (HBM) platform of a prototype of an average female. Propose a virtual test method protocol for Virtual Testing suitable for different seated postures and genders will be developed. Demonstrate the virtual test method and HBM for females in rear impacts tests. The prototype of an Open Source digital Human Body Model for use in crash testing will put Sweden at the cutting edge in the area of Virtual Testing and model development. This position will further enhance the crash testing arena by providing access to a model of an average female, which is not yet easily available. Present knowledge of injury prevention and consumer testing will be advanced by the introduction of the Virtual Testing protocol to be developed in the ViVA project, which will also enhance the quality of the identification process of the best performing vehicle safety systems. An open source virtual Human Body Model platform of a prototype of an average female will be launched. In addition, techniques required for a protocol for Virtual Testing suitable for different seated postures and genders will be developed. Virtual Testing will be applied to a test case in consumer tests to ensure that impact on vehicle safety is achieved. The project will benefit from external guidance and advice during the duration of the project through an Advisory Group consisting of representatives of stakeholders from industry, testing organisations, and other experts.

Partner organizations

  • Volvo Cars (Private, Sweden)
  • The Swedish National Road and Transport Research Institute (VTI) (Research Institute, Sweden)
  • Folksams forskningsstiftelse (Non Profit, Sweden)
Start date 01/11/2013
End date The project is closed: 31/12/2016
​The main objective of the Virtual Vehicle Assessment (ViVA) project is to take the first step in establishing an Open Source digital Human Body Model (HBM) for crash safety assessment, and to use the HBM to address gender inequality. A web platform for open and independent exchange of HBMs and other related research results will be established. Basic data on antropometry and MRI scans will be obtained and uploaded on the web platform and the current project will start this process by providing data on an average female car occupant. The female data will form the basis for the meshing of a finite element HBM. First a whole body mesh of low complexity will be implemented. Then, a more refined neck and spine system will be implemented and tuned to reproduce the responses of female volunteer test. All this data will be openly provided via the platform to allow researchers worldwide to use and refine the HBM. To demonstrate the potential for improved safety for female occupants a virtual test procedure will be established and used. Improvements to dummy models and the development of a representative seat model will enable a link from real world accident data via crash testing and over to virtual testing.
Project leader
​Astrid Linder, VTI
Other information:
​​http://www.vinnova.se/sv/Resultat/Projekt/Effekta/2013-00117/ViVA--Virtuell-utvardering-av-fordonssakerhet-Open-Source-manniskomodeller-for-jamstalld-trafiksakerhet/  

Funded by

  • VINNOVA (Public, Sweden)
​VTI, Folksam, Volvo Cars

Published: Tue 14 Oct 2014. Modified: Thu 31 May 2018