Effects of wind-induced tall building vibrations on human motor performance

Prolonged exposure to wind-induced vibrations in tall buildings can cause discomfort, impair task performance, and even trigger motion sickness symptoms. To evaluate the influence of wind-induced vibrations on human motor performance, a dual-axis tall building motion simulator that simulated sinusoidal vibrations while participants performed a Fitts' Law type of task was used. Participants experienced a static condition, and motion conditions with acceleration levels of 8 and 30 milli-g, at frequencies of 0.125, 0.25 and 0.5 Hz, in fore-aft and lateral postural orientations. The results showed that increases in frequency, and particularly, magnitude of acceleration level leads to measureable performance degradation.