(Flow of Scientific Information, University of Waterloo, 2007)
What kinds of document do engineers use
Keywords for searching on these topics, try restricting to Steacie Stacks only:
Websites such as the Citation Machine can be helpful in setting up references.
Mendeley can also help you keep track of what you're working on.
York's SPARK modules have lots of information about writing, referencing and how to avoid mistakes in attribution.
My topics: Roller coaster safety system // Smart home system // ground penetrating radar // autonomous vehicles
What kind of information do I need? Categories? Sources?
E-books are listed and linked in the general catalogue. The following e-book packages and titles can also be access as collections.
These database provide a wide range of articles, both scholarly and non-scholarly. The databases at the end of the list (Lexis-Nexis, Canadian Newsstand) are newspaper databases where you can research current trends.
Patents are a license from a government to exploit an invention. When you file a patent and it is granted, you are the only one that can use that technology or method in that country. Anyone else that wants to use it must license it from you.
When you are looking to file a patent, the concept of "prior art" is very important. That means that you can't get a patent for something someone else has already invented, even if they didn't patent it.
What are standards?
A technical standard is an established norm or requirement in regard to technical systems. It is usually a formal document that establishes uniform engineering or technical criteria, methods, processes and practices. In contrast, a custom, convention, company product, corporate standard, and so forth that becomes generally accepted and dominant is often called a de facto standard.
What's a standard you have heard of?
Where do standards come from?
What kinds of things have standards?
Why are standards important?
Key concepts:
Example: HTML standards
The Libraries subscribe to the IHS Engineering Workbench system that will allow users to request standards from organizations that are not covered by the subscriptions mentioned above. An example is ASTM standards where we have not purchased paper copies in the past.
Since the IHS allows any York University patron to request any standard, even those we may already have access to, all requests must be approved by a library staff member before the standard will actually be purchased.
To access Engineering Workbench click here.
There are a few steps that you must follow in the process.
1. First time users must register. PLEASE USE YOUR YORKU.CA EMAIL ACCOUNT TO REGISTER.
2. Once you register and login, Please select the IHS Standards Expert option.
3. You must search for the standard you wish to request, either via keyword search or the standard number if you know it.
4. The results screen has all the standards that match your search. Decide which one is the one you want.
5. Once you've decided which one to request, please click on the shopping cart. YOU MUST USE THE ADD TO MY WISHLIST BUTTON to ensure that the order will be properly processed. We will not be purchasing personal copies for users.
6. You will now have to provide rationale for your request. No reasonable request related to teaching, learning or research will be refused.
7. Once you have made the request, please allow a day or so for the administrators to process your request. Once it is approved, the standard will be available to you (and the York community) via IHS Engineering Workbench. The subscription is annual, so each year any requested standards will need to be re-licenced to be used again.
If you have any questions, please contact the Engineering Librarian whose contact information is at your left.
To access IHS Standards Expert click here.
Geospatial data and maps you can create using that data are important parts of many civil engineering projects.
These database allow you to research specific industries from a business rather than a technical perspective
Industry Research Guide
These databases will allow you to access census and survey data about Canada. They will help you to understand more abuot the market demographic or user population you are interested in.
Online research using blogs, forums, and online communities of all kinds can be useful for understanding your customer and your market. Association websites (ie.. Canadian Diabetes Association) can also have valuable information.
For more help, visit a related subject guide.
