Library Resources and Research Strategies for TEAM Projects Michael White, MLIS Engineering & Science Library Oct. 12, 2017
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Library Resources and Research Strategies
for TEAM Projects
Michael White, MLIS
Engineering & Science Library
Oct. 12, 2017
Agenda
1. The role of information in the design process
2. Types of engineering/business information
3. Sources of engineering/business information
4. End: Questions?
1. The role of information in projects
• The need of information can be crucial at many steps in a engineering/technical project.
• You will need to find many bits of information and to validate them as to their reliability.
• The information needed for an engineering project is far more diverse and less readily available than that needed for other tasks.
Where can I find information after I graduate?
• Corporate/agency libraries
• Professional societies
• Information brokers ($$$)
• Public libraries (free)
• University libraries (free, mostly)
• Government information (free)
– Technical reports
– Patents
– Statistics
2. Types of Design Information
2.1 Project Specific Information
This is the specific information related to the assigned design problem and may include:
– Information about the client
– Client’s services and products
– Client’s needs
– Market survey
– Technical survey
– Codes/Regulations/Standards
Case study: Brilliance Phototherapy System
Source: D-Rev
Must be safe and effective
Rugged design able to cope with rural hospital floors
Erratic power supplies
Max. cost USD $400, $500 with warranty
Replacement parts easy to obtain and install
Reliable local partners
2. Types of Design Information
2.2 Technical information
– Fundamental design concepts
– Analysis tools/ specialized software
– Life cycle information (e.g. reliability)
2. Types of Design Information
2.3 Related designs
– Specifications and drawings for previous versions of the product
– Similar designs
2.4 Materials
- Performance in past designs (e.g. failure analysis)
- Material properties
2. Types of Design Information
2.5 Manufacturing
Capability of processes
Capacity analysis
Manufacturing sources
Assembly methods
2.6 Cost Cost history
Current material and manufacturing costs
2. Types of Design Information
2.7 Customer
Survey and feedback
Marketing data/ market analysis
2.8 Technical standards
ISO (International)
CSA (Canadian)
Company specifc
2. Types of Design Information
2.9 Governmental regulations
Performance based
Environmental
Safety
2.10 Spatial data
Maps
GIS data
Case Study: Segway Transporter
Source: Segway, Inc.
If you were designing the Segway for the
first time, what are some types of
information that might apply?
So, what are the sources for these different types of information and where to find them?
3. Sources of Design Information
Just as design requires a variety of types of information, so there is a variety of sources in which to find this information.
The first inclination is to “Google” the design topic but the questions about “reliability, validity, and objectivity” of information still remain.
Source: Dilbert.com
3. Sources of Design Information
3.1 Engineering handbooks
Print references: e.g. Handbook of engineering design
Electronic handbooks: Databases and packages (EngNetBase, Knovel, Referex, Springer). You can get the link to these databases from the library website.
Knovel provides “Data Search” so you can search tables and graphs from handbooks
Most collections provide downloadable PDF files of the chapters or the entire book.
3. Sources of Design Information
3.2 Journals
Scholarly, trade, and popular
Mainly electronic with print back files
– Examples:
Academic Search complete: Abstracts and indexing for ~11,000 journals; 50% full text
Web of Science: ~8,300 journals in science and technology
Science Direct: 1,800 journals, full text for 800.
3. Sources of Design Information
3.3 Business Information
– Examples:
• Business Source complete: Journals, financial data, case studies, investment research reports, industry reports, market research reports, country reports, company profiles, SWOT analyses
• Thomas Register of American Manufacturers (www.thomasnet.com): supplier and manufacturers in the US and Canada.
• North American Industry Classification System (NAICS)
3. Sources of Design Information
3.4 Government sources
Government websites (should have their publications available online)
Queen’s library is a government depository library
3.5 Codes and standards
Canadian standards (CSA collections)
ASTM and IEEE Standards
ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code
Many others…
3. Sources of Design Information
3.6 Patents
Public documents, available on the Internet
Complex classification system
Examples: USPTO, CIPO, ESPACENET, Google Patent
Check the Patent tutorial on the library website
3.7 Company-Centered information
Can be proprietary information
Case Study: Egg cartons
3. Sources of Design Information
3.8 Gray Literature: it exists but not always indexed
Technical reports
Preprints
Trade publications
Conference proceedings
Wikis and blogs?
Academic theses
3. Sources of Design Information
3.9 People
End users
Experts in the field
People who help you out of professional responsibility
People who have financial interest to in helping you (e.g. potential suppliers)
People who are paid to assist you!
Contact
Michael White
Engineering & Science Library
Douglas Library Office #520
Office Hours:M-F, 9:00-4:00 (by appointment)
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