Application of Relationship Diagram in Industrial Engineering Principle to Children Playground Design
Keywords:
relationship diagram, layout, children playground designAbstract
The objectives of this research were: (1) to study the present playground layout; (2) to analyze the relationship among playground equipment; and 3) to propose ways to improve the location of playground equipment. This research collected data from a case study, which was a primary school. Collected data were the current area of the playground, the number of playground equipment types, the distance between playground equipment, and a photograph of the playground. Then, the relationship diagram used in industrial engineering was applied to analyze the locations of playground equipment and other components. Then, the area of each piece of playground equipment was computed using the principle of safety in the playground. Then, ways to improve playground layout were proposed. The results showed that the area of the L-shaped playground was 234.09 m2. Playground equipment included 5 sets of swings, 4 sets of slides, 2 sets of seesaws, 3 sets of train-shape bars, 1 set of curves climbing frames, and ground. After using the relationship diagram, it was found that most relationships between playground equipment with moveable components such as swings and seesaws and other equipment were X-level. This means that swings and seesaws should not be placed close to other playground equipment. To improve playground layout, the distance between the swing or seesaw and another playground equipment should be at least 1.8 m. Furthermore, a tree-free environment within the playground area is suggested to prevent getting stumbled upon by a tree root or slammed into a tree.
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