Civil spring-2012

How to Find Information in Civil and Environmental Engineering Bruce Slutsky NJIT Library

Scientific Method
The scientific method is the process by which scientists, collectively and over time, endeavor to construct an accurate representation of the world. There are various thought processes that are used when the scientific method is employed

Information Retrieval
We are flooded with scientific and technical information. Scientists, engineers and students must be able to find information at all levels from a multitude of information resources available to them

Similarities between the Scientific Method and Information Retrieval
Scientific Method
Know the subject
Require new knowledge
Propose an experiment to find new knowledge
Conduct the experiment
Observe and interpret the results
Revise the experiment
Interpret the final outcome of the experiment
Information Retrieval
Know the scope of and contents of databases in his/her field of endeavor
Require new knowledge
Devise an initial search strategy using relevant terminology in subject databases
Examine the initial answer set
Revise the strategy based on findings from the initial answer set
Explore alternative search options
Examine the final answer set
Find the relevant documents
Use the information found

THE STRUCTURED RESEARCH METHOD IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS
Use both a web search engine and the library portal.
When selecting a data source to search, think about who would care about your topic? What disciplines cover your area of interest?
Formulate search string by combining concepts
#1 RESEARCH QUESTION #2 SEARCH STRATEGY #3 EVALUATE RESULTS
Develop understanding of research question and scope of topic
Brainstorm alternative keywords/synonyms for major concepts
Look over initial search results, check for false hits or additional terms descriptors you may have missed.
Does your original search string need to be modified? Did you select an appropriate database?

Formats of the Scientific and Technical Literature
Journal
Conference Proceeding
Magazine
Review Journal
Research Level Book (monograph)
Encyclopedia
Data Compilation

What is a Journal?
A journal is a publication issued periodically that reports original research. Manuscripts submitted by researchers are scrutinized by an editor and a referee before they are accepted for publication. This is known as the peer review process. The articles are very detailed and include detailed experimental procedures. It is aimed at a very specialized audience of researchers in the field.

Selected Journals in Civil and Environmental Engineering Environmental
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Environmental Science and Technology
Environmental Pollution
Ground Water

Selected Journals in Civil and Environmental Engineering Structural
Journal of Structural Engineering
Journal of Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering
Computer-aided civil and infrastructure engineering
Computers & Structures

What is a Conference Proceeding?
Scientists and engineers regularly attend conferences to report recent research findings to their colleagues. Most conferences are organized by professional societies such as the American Society of Civil Engineers and the American Academy of Environmental Engineers . Conferences may be held annually, bi-annually, or irregularly. Some are one-time events.
A conference proceeding is the permanent record of the papers presented at a conference. They are held as books or as CD-ROMs in a library.
Many conferences do not publish their proceedings, some publish only abstracts, and that papers from such meetings

Examples of Conference Proceedings
Environmental engineering, 1999 : proceedings of ASCE-CSCE National Conference on Environmental Engineering : July 25-28, 1999, Norfolk, Virginia / edited by Gary C. Shafran ; sponsored by the Environmental Engineering Division of the American Society of Civil Engineers [and] Environmental Engineering Division of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineers.
Clean water, clean environment, 21st century : team agriculture, working to protect water resources : conference proceedings, March 5-8, 1995, Kansas City, Missouri / [sponsored by Working Group on Water Quality, U.S. Department of Agriculture ; coordinated by ASAE, The Society for engineering in agricultural, food, and biological systems].
Application of stress-wave theory on piles : Second International Conference / edited by G. Holm, H. Bredenberg, C-J Grävare

Review Journal
A Review Journal is a condensed version of a research journal. It summarizes research in a field over a short period of time. The articles omit the detailed experimental procedures but do provide lengthy bibliographies with references to the original research. Examples are:
Annual Review of Energy and the Environment
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics

Magazines
A magazine is a publication issued periodically that has scientific and technical articles that are translated into a language suitable for a more general audience. Magazine articles are usually written by a journalist rather than the scientist who has done the research. Some magazines are aimed at the lay public while others are suitable for technically trained people. Some examples of scientific and technical magazines:
Civil Engineering
Modern Steel Construction
ASTM Standardization News
Hazardous Waste Consultant

Monographs
A monograph is librarians' jargon for a book that is only published once. Books are obviously written at levels ranging from elementary to graduate school level. Recent research done over a longer period of time is reported in monographs. Now, the information is available to a much wider audience. There are thousands of monographs written in civil and environmental engineering and related disciplines.

Handbooks
A handbook , in print or electronic format, is a summary of the highlights of a topic, written more as a review than of an instructional work. It is usually the product of many experts who write chapters about their specialized fields. They are particular useful for providing tabular data and are helpful in finding diverse, hard-to-find data which does not become outdated quickly.

Examples of Handbooks
Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers
Handbook of Civil Engineering Calculations
Standard Handbook of Environmental Engineering
Handbook of Environmental Engineering Calculations

Encyclopedias
Encyclopedias introduce researchers to specialize fields of study. They may not be familiar with encyclopedias in civil and environmental engineering such as:
Encyclopedia of building and construction terms
Encyclopedia of environmental science and engineering
Encyclopedia of the environment

Is Wikipedia Reliable?
Can it be trusted as a source of science and engineering information?

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Wikipedia
Advantages:
Good for obtaining background knowledge on a topic
Articles can be revised and edited quickly. Information about recent events will appear there
Disadvantages:
Does not undergo the peer review process
Anyone can write or edit an article anonymously
Suggestion: Do not cite it in your bibliography

Flow of Scientific Information

Flow of Scientific Information
Scientists and engineers conceive ideas and perform experiments in the laboratory. They want to make the results of their research public. They will write a manuscript documenting their research results and submit to the editor of an appropriate journal for publication. The editor will refer the manuscript to an authority in the field who will review it and accept or deny it for publication. They may also present their findings at a professional conference.
The published information flows from the top of the chart to the bottom. Students needing information must start their research at the bottom of the chart. Tertiary literature such as handbooks, encyclopedias, and textbooks must be consulted first. If the desired information is not found there, the researcher must try to find information in reviews, journals and conference proceedings. Such publications are indexed in subject specific databases.

Types of Databases
Bibliographic - includes the elements needed to identify the document
Author(s)
Title
Journal, Year, Volume, Issue Number, Pages
Most bibliographic databases include an abstract - a one paragraph summary of the article to help the researcher decide if it is relevant to the research question
Full-Text - includes the entire article in electronic format
Numeric (Data Compilation) - includes only specific data elements such as thermodynamic or spectral data

History of Database Formats
Print - Very cumbersome and difficult to use
Online (1970s to the present) - Pay as you go. Cost is based on amount of information retrieved
CD-ROM (1980s to the present) - Only so much information can fit on one disk
World Wide Web (1990s to the present) Allows for remote access

Limitations of Databases
Subject coverage
Dates of Publication
Types of Publication (i.e. journals only, patents only)
Not all databases provide full-text of the retrieved documents or links to them

Subject Databases (Search Engines) for Civil Engineers
Scopus
Scifinder Scholar (Chemistry Related)
Business Source Premier (trade magazines)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency

Scopus
Scopus is a multidisciplinary database that contains records going back to the mid 1960s, offering newly-linked citations across the widest body of scientific abstracts available in one place.
Designed and developed with researchers and librarians, Scopus is the easy way to get expert results. It offers superior support of the literature research process. Integrated web search plus seamless linking to full-text articles and other library resources make Scopus quick, easy and comprehensive.
It is always advisable to search more than one database when an exhaustive search is needed since coverage of databases differ

Scifinder Scholar
Electronic Version of Chemical Abstracts (1907 to the present)
It contains many links to full-text articles
Searchable by chemical substance, reaction, research topic, author or affiliation
It is accessible from a web site. Users must register to use it

Scifinder Scholar
There is a link in the database for every article. When you click on that icon you can determine if the document is available in print or electronically at NJIT
Only two people at NJIT may search Scifinder Scholar at a time. Please minimize time you are using it by:
Evaluating your answer set while you are off line
Using the database during off-peak hours. It is available almost 24 hours a day/7 days a week
Waiting at least 10 minutes before attempting to login again.
Trying others databases such as Scopus and Science Direct for technical searches
Several how-to guides are available at http:// www.cas.org/support/academic/sf/htg/index.html

Publisher Databases at NJIT With Civil Engineering Content
American Chemical Society Journals
American Institute of Physics
American Society of Civil Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
IEEE/IEL Electronic Library
Institute of Physics
Science Direct (Elsevier)
SIAM Journals Online (Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics)
Springer
Wiley Journals Online

American Society of Civil Engineers Journals
Journal of Bridge Engineering
Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering
Journal of Energy Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engineering
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Journal of Structural Engineering

Science Direct Journals
Cement and Concrete Composites
Engineering Analysis with Boundary Elements
International Journal of Fatigue
Environmental Pollution
Global and Planetary Change

Environmental Protection Agency ( http:// www.epa.gov )
Laws and Regulations
Environmental Issues
Environmental Test Methods and Guidelines
Chemicals: Scientific Review and Assessment

NJIT Library Home Page http:// library.njit.edu
Catalog (Voyager)
Database of the print holdings of NJIT Library
Databases
Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Form
Library Information

Voyager, the NJIT Library Catalog
Books
Journals (print)
Technical Reports
Conference Proceedings
Theses and Dissertations (by NJIT students)

Selected List of Resources in Civil and Environmental Engineering
http:// researchguides.njit.edu /civil

Evaluating Web Sites
Please see http://library.njit.edu/researchhelpdesk/howto/evaluate.php
You may use web sites in this assignment, but please make sure they are reliable

Availability of Journals
Print only
Electronic Only
Print and Electronic
Dates of electronic availability vary
Check Serials Solutions Database
Open Access Journals
Not available at NJIT - order through interlibrary loan

Boolean Logic AND
The Boolean AND narrows your search by retrieving only documents that contain every one of the keywords that you enter. The more terms you enter, the narrower your search becomes. EXAMPLE: air pollution AND benzene EXAMPLE: water pollution AND benzene AND New Jersey

Boolean Logic OR
The Boolean OR expands your search by returning documents in which either or both keywords appear. The more keywords you enter, the more documents you retrieve. EXAMPLE: ozone OR smog EXAMPLE: ozone OR smog OR particulates

Boolean Logic NOT
The Boolean NOT limits your search by returning only the first keyword but not the second, even if the first word appears in that document, too EXAMPLE air pollution NOT ozone EXAMPLE water pollution NOT chloroform

Devising Optimal Search Strategies
Choose the proper database(s)
Be aware of the scope and limitations
Use all relevant search terms and appropriate Boolean logic
Think of concepts not words
Devise a search strategy for:
Precise search
Expand strategy if too few are found
Exhaustive search
Cut down if too many citations are retrieved

Is Your Answer Reasonable?
If not, what can you do differently?
Keep in mind that the thought processes involved in applying the scientific method to laboratory experiments apply in the search for technical information
Ask for help
Library Reference desk in person or at 973-596-3210
Bruce Slutsky, Technical Reference Librarian, at [email_address] or 973-642-4950

Cited Your Sources Correctly
APA Style Guide (American Psychological Association) is recommended
See guide from Purdue University
NoodleBib Express – generates citations for you in APA or MLA format
EndNote – a program that generates bibliographies
Scopus and Ebscohost databases – can output your bibliography in the format of choice

Interlibrary Loan
If you need an article or book not owned by NJIT, you may submit a form to request the item(s) you need.
Please check to see if the information is complete.
Incomplete information will delay the receipt of the materials you need

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Civil spring-2012

by Bruce Slutsky on Feb 29, 2012

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