Human Factors in Challenging Environments: From Thermal Comfort to G-force Exposure

In human factors and ergonomics, professionals play a key role in shaping the compatibility between tasks, products, and environments with the needs of individuals. The most successful projects demonstrate a tight integration with the human experience, underscoring the importance of ergonomic design in promoting societal well-being. A human-centered approach to design and evaluation should be championed. This book addresses this issue with an approach that focuses on environmental conditions and ergonomics in physical settings.

This book examines human factors and ergonomics across various industrial settings. From tackling challenges posed by thermal to extreme environments, the book offers an understanding of environmental ergonomics, resulting in better, more comfortable, and safer workspaces. It investigates critical topics such as G environments and +Gz Acceleration, equipping the reader with the knowledge to navigate and optimize various workplace conditions. Additionally, the reader will develop a good understanding of environmental ergonomics and understand how an appreciation of it can lead to practical and noticeable changes in their workplace.

Human Factors in Challenging Environments: From Thermal Comfort to G-Force Exposure will be of interest to human factors and ergonomics professionals seeking to deepen their expertise and broaden their understanding of the field. It will also appeal to engineers, designers, and policymakers who are invested in creating safer and more efficient work systems.

Waldemar Karwowski is a Pegasus Professor and Chairman of the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and Executive Director of the Institute for Advanced Systems Engineering, University of Central Florida, USA. He holds an M.S. in Production Engineering and Management from the Technical University of Wroclaw, Poland, and a Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University, USA. He was awarded a D.Sc. degree in Management Science by the State Institute for Organization and Management in Industry, Poland. He is the Past President of the International Ergonomics Association (2000–2003) and the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (2007). He served on the Committee on Human Factors/Human Systems Integration, National Research Council, and the National Academies, USA (2007–2011). He has over 500 publications focused on human performance, safety, cognitive systems engineering, human-centered design, neuro-fuzzy systems, nonlinear dynamics, neurotechnology, and neuroergonomics. He serves as the Co-Editor-in-Chief of the journal Theoretical Issues in Ergonomics Science (Taylor & Francis).

Beata Mrugalska is an Associate Professor, Vice-Dean for Science at the Faculty of Management Engineering (2024–2028) and Head of the Division of Applied Ergonomics (2020–2024, 2024–2028), Institute of Safety and Quality Engineering, Faculty of Management Engineering, Poznan University of Technology, Poland. She holds an M.Sc. in Management and Marketing and a Ph.D. in Machine Construction and Operation and was awarded a D.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Poznan University of Technology, Poland. Since 2018, she has been a board member of the Center for Registration of European Ergonomists (CREE). She is responsible for promoting the professional title of EuroErgonomist in the international scientific and industrial environment. She is also a board member of the Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences, Commission of Ergonomics, and a member of the Ergonomics Committee at the Polish Academy of Sciences, Branch Poznan. She has over 150 publications on human factors in modern organizational management concepts.