China is going to launch its second nationwide adult figure measurement, according to People Daily's website people.com.cn.

The measurement samples are expected to be drawn from 25,000 people and the results will provide solid scientific data for almost every field of human activity.

The height of handrails in buses and subway carriages, the size of face masks, hats and clothes, and the design of furniture, houses -- even ships and planes -- will be assessed.

"Human figure data is one of the most basic engineering data of a country, and the size of human figures has a direct influence on development in industries including transportation, manufacturing, architecture, furniture and clothing," said Zhang Xin, a researcher at the China National Institute of Standardization.

China launched its first national figure measurement between 1986 and 1988.

(China Daily September 3, 2009)