Advances in human thermophysiology modelling: Methodological review of a century of developments

Human thermophysiology models are indispensable tools for predicting the human thermal response across diverse scientific and engineering domains. However, the rapid evolution and methodological diversity of these models have created a need for a unified, systematic overview. This paper provides a comprehensive, methodology-centric review of the state-of-the-art, systematically cataloging and analyzing 96 distinct whole-body thermoregulation models. We deconstruct these models into their fundamental components, establishing classification frameworks for their passive systems (e.g., geometric and anatomical representation), active systems (e.g., skin blood flow, sweating), circulatory system modeling, and personalization schemes. The analysis reveals a persistent evolutionary trend towards greater spatial resolution and anatomical fidelity. However, it also uncovers a developmental asymmetry, where the sophistication of physiological sub-models, particularly active system control logic and personalization schemes, has often not kept pace with the advances in geometric and anatomical fidelity. Key research gaps are identified, including the methodological confounding that hinders direct inter-model comparisons and the critical lack of a standardized validation framework. This review serves as a foundational resource for researchers and developers by providing a structured technical analysis of existing methodologies and by outlining a clear roadmap for future advancements focused on enhancing active system modelling, developing personalization schemes, developing and establishing robust validation protocols.