A landmark-based 3D anthropometric method for standardized 2D mapping of female upper-torso surface morphology

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) body scanning captures detailed upper-torso surface morphology, but the lack of a standardized surface-based representation limits direct comparison across individuals. This study developed a landmark-based method for converting female upper-torso scans into standardized two-dimensional (2D) morphometric maps while preserving selected surface lengths and regional surface areas. Anatomical landmarks and geometrically defined auxiliary points were used to partition each upper-torso into corresponding anterior and posterior regions. Measurements extracted from the 3D surface were incorporated as geometric constraints to calculate 2D landmark coordinates, and the resulting maps were compared with the source scans. The method was evaluated using scans from three adult women within the normal body mass index range. Complete anterior and posterior maps with a common landmark structure were generated for all cases, and the 2D measurements closely corresponded to the original 3D values. The largest discrepancies occurred in regions of greater curvature, particularly the anterior bust and posterior scapular areas. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of reorganizing complex upper-torso surface morphology within a standardized 2D framework while retaining more surface information than conventional linear or circumferential measurements. Larger and more morphologically diverse samples are required to establish reproducibility and broader applicability.