Field-to-lab-to-field research
CISWP's field equipment enables us to conduct ecologically valid research with workers on their worksites. Alongside our laboratory equipment, CISWP combines the control and reliability of laboratory research with the realism and ecological validity of the field, contributing to a scientifically rigorous field-to-lab-to-field approach.
Work and health research conventionally lack ecological validity, where studies do not often use worker participants who are representative of potential end-users and do not take place or consider actual work environments and conditions. Research conducted with a convenience study sample and away from worksites, unfortunately, is not easily transferrable to real work settings.
Skilled trades jobs are often complex, peripatetic, and involves irregular work periods; work environments are often unstructured and unpredictable; and work tasks are highly variable and dynamic. Field equipment enables both ecologically valid research but also contributes to CISWP’s innovative and scientifically rigorous field-to-lab-to-field approach, combining the control and reliability of laboratory research with the realism and ecological validity of the field.
CISWP’s portable measurement and wearable sensors include:
Wearable eye tracking glasses to measure cognition and perception
CISWP is equipped with the latest wearable TOBII pro glasses eye tracking technology that can be used in both laboratory and field settings to capture highly accurate and unbiased insights into human behaviour and understand cognitive and perceptual strategies of workers interacting with their environment, their tasks, their equipment and tools, and with each other. We will be able to measure situational awareness, visual attention to hazards, and impairments to attention and fatigue.
A dust and water-resistant full-body wireless muscle activity measurement system
Field studies often occur in volatile and harsh environments; field equipment must be up to the challenge. CISWP’s 18 channel wireless Cometa MiniX EMG system is one of the only IP68 certified waterproof and dustproof data logging systems designed to collect muscle activity from real workers while completing their actual tasks in their work environments.
A full-body wireless and data logging motion capture system
CISWP takes their motion capture measurement capabilities into the field using a full-body wireless Movella XSens 3D motion tracking system. The XSens system is configured with biomechanical model and sensor fusion algorithms to measure physical performance and for workplace and human task analysis.
A multi-channel portable data collection and monitoring system
CISWP’s portable biometrics data acquisition system is comprised of a portable data logger with wired EMG, goniometer, force sensor, and load cell sensors. This all-in-one system allows us to capture worker data when conditions are particularly harsh (i.e., electromagnetic interference) when attempting to capture muscle activity, joint angles, and kinetic data.
Portable strength and force measurement equipment
Worker strength and job task analysis can be measured and conducted using a portable strength testing kit. CISWP is equipped with a Mark-10 digital force gauge with various attachments to test push/pull muscle strength as well as a handgrip dynamometer to estimate hand strength and hand grip force matching.
Activity watches to assess daily motion and sleep activity
CISWP’s fatigue and multi-day studies are supported with a suite of ActiGraph wGT3X-BT wearable activity watches to monitor continuous physical activity, mobility, and sleep patterns. These watches can record up to 25 continuous days of data and can be worn on the wrist, waist, and ankles.