Managing thermoregulation
The next development involved modelling that could accurately assess core body temperature in relation to metabolic activity and skin temperature, with the goal of real-time, overall body temperature management (thermoregulation). The results indicated that core body temperature could be accurately modelled, based on actual data, using either metabolic activity alone, or the combination of metabolic activity and skin temperature. These models, based on empirical data, can also be interpreted in a mechanistic way, and compared to a more sophisticated model, such as the ‘Fiala thermal Physiology and Comfort’ (FPC) model. Of course, overall core body temperature control is a key factor in dynamically predicting perceived comfort when wearing protective headgear.
