VIVA+
Full title: Sex-neutral virtual testing: Building an open library of certified HBMs (Könsneutral virtuell testning: Uppbyggnad av ett öppet bibliotek med certifierade HBMs)
The project aims to improve road safety by enabling sex-neutral virtual testing in the development and evaluation of vehicle safety. It will establish an open library of qualified and certified Human Body Models (HBMs), ensuring that an “average female” representation can be used for validation and qualification—not only the historically dominant “average male” model. This is expected to provide more accurate injury prediction across a broader share of the population, strengthening the evidence base for requirements, design decisions and prioritisation of safety measures that reduce the risk of serious injury. Looking ahead, the project adopts an Open Science approach with open protocols, data and documentation to support rapid uptake by industry and researchers. It will also actively cultivate collaboration with relevant initiatives and user communities (e.g., HBM4VT/OpenVT) and maintain dialogue with ongoing regulatory development, ensuring that outcomes are usable, credible and ready for implementation without embargo.
Connection to other projects: Viva och HBM-project
Traffic safety benefit: The project improves traffic safety by enabling sex-neutral virtual testing, leading to more accurate injury prediction and better protection for the whole population (not only “average male” occupants). By providing an open, certified HBM library, it accelerates adoption of more representative safety evaluation in industry and future standards.
Key words: HBM, HumanBody Model, Injury Prevention, Equity, Open source Open Science, Sex-neutral
