Author(s): NAKAMICHI, T., KAWAMURA, A., AIHARA, S., YAMASHITA, D., KURAZUME, R., Institution: KYUSHU UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1895

INTRODUCTION:
Following its Olympic debut, coaching and feedback systems for speed climbing are still evolving
due to the sport's relatively new status. While visualization systems exist, many are limited to
video-based visual feedback, which is insufficient to capture complex climbing dynamics. Our
research group has developed a system to measure the forces applied to holds [1][2]. This study
presents ClimbViS, a three-dimensional visualization system that integrates force measurement
data with motion capture information. The system processes and stores synchronized
measurement data, enabling users to review and analyze specific climbing sequences within an
interactive visualization environment.
METHODS:
ClimbViS integrates data measured by force sensors with motion capture results to provide a 3D
visualization. Within the visualization interface, the speed climbing wall, the forces applied to the
holds (represented by arrows), and a human body model are rendered in a 3D environment. By
displaying this information in 3D, users can intuitively understand movements, including depth.
The visualization interface is developed using the Unity engine and is available on tablets and
PCs. Forces applied to the holds are represented as translucent arrows to allow for an intuitive
grasp of their direction and magnitude. The direction of each arrow represents the force
orientation, while its size corresponds to the magnitude of the force. Motion data is visualized
using a 3D human body model, which can be played back and reviewed. Users can intuitively
perform basic operations such as camera rotation, zooming, and adjusting the playback speed.
Users can view their preferred data by selecting the trial from the dropdown menus.
RESULTS:
A measurement experiment was conducted, and the collected data were visualized using the
developed system. The participants were five advanced speed climbers.
Focusing on the holds used during the start phase, force data were collected using bolt-type
force sensors, instrumented climbing holds, and a force plate. After the measurement, a
questionnaire was conducted with a total of eight participants, consisting of the five athletes and
three coaches. Due to processing time constraints, only the force information was presented
during the interface operation. Regarding the effectiveness of the system for training, it received
a high score of 4.88 on a five-point scale.
CONCLUSION:
In this study, we developed a visualization system that integrates force data and motion data in
speed climbing to enable intuitive understanding. The experimental results suggest that this
interface is useful for athletes to analyze their performance. In the future, we aim to enhance
the visual presentation by integrating radar charts and establishing specific evaluation indices to
provide a more useful performance analysis.
References:
[1]Hayashida,et al., IEEE SENSORS 2024
[2]Shintani,et al., ECSS 2025