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Accessing Engineering Information

• During your study or in your career life, You need to access information related to your specialized field or other fields.

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• Before setting out to the library or opening your favorite Web search engine, know some strategies for planning your search and for getting the most out of your search.

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Search Preparation

• Purpose: write report, select equipment or product or work on a design problem, conduct research …etc.
• Type of information: Theoretical, practical, product information, …etc.
• Exact needs: Raw data, overview of the subject, Historical information (e.g., for product liability), Up-to-date, state of the art information…etc.

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Basic Search Strategies

• What is my time frame: hours, days, weeks?
• What resources do you have access to: company, university, library, internet, near by experts, publications?
• Are you going to pay for the information? And how much?

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• Your answer to these questions determine where to look for information.

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Following the Trail

• General Books: Recent books give up-to-date information but old books may give good background or basic information. Library, internet (e-books), or bookstores where you can find the books
• Reference Books: Used for quick use (not checked out of the building) such as handbooks, reference manuals, guides, …etc.
• Journals: Hardcopies/electronic copies. They are very important to keep up with the most recent related works.

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Following the Trail

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Indexes and Abstracts

• Indexes (periodical index): An index, in print or electronic form, lists articles grouped by subjects from selected periodicals which gives information about article titles, authors, Journal titles, volume, issues, dates, and page count
• Abstract: indexes enables you to find many articles therefore you read the abstract which gives you a summary about the article (content, results, and findings). So, you can read the abstract of the article to decide whether you will use it in your project or not. Abstracts may appear separately in indexes

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Indexes and Abstracts

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Indexes and Abstracts

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Indexes and Abstracts

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Technical Reports and Patents

• Technical Reports: Huge number of reports are written every year. For a search or a report, use indexes and abstracts to narrow the search. Usually reports, supported by government or contract, are easy to find
• Patents: Documents have detailed information about materials, design, inventions related information.

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Product Literature

Include manufacturer and vendor products catalogs, product selectors, buyers guides, performance data, photographs or drawings of products, data books for computers and integrated circuit devices…etc

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When to use product literature?

• If you are on a design project, product literature is essential
• You can get the dimensions or performance figures for specific components, accessories, or equipment related to your subject or project
• These resources also help you if you are producing or marketing your own products by telling you what's already available in your field

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Standards and Specifications

• Most products we use are designed and produced in accordance with certain standards or specifications
• These standards are essential if you want to be able to consistently fit light bulbs into sockets, screw nuts onto bolts, replace engine parts, or rely on the strength of concrete
• As a designer you must be aware of these standards and specifications or codes that already exist that may be relevant to your product

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Standards and Specifications

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Internet Resources for Eng. Information

• Electronic Mailing Lists: You subscribe (using e-mail address) to any of the discussion groups (like: Usenet which refers to news groups, chose one related to you topic) so you can get discussions or information from any one in the group.
• Electronic Newsletters and Journals

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Internet Resources for Eng. Information

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Internet Resources for Eng. Information

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Internet Resources for Eng. Information