How to find information in environmental science. Updated for Spring 2014.

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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Similarities between the Scientific
Method and Information Retrieval
Scientific Method
Information Retrieval
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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
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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

5. THE STRUCTURED RESEARCH METHOD IS AN ITERATIVE PROCESS
• Look over initial search
results, check for false
#3
hits or additional terms
descriptors you may
EVALUATE
have missed.
RESULTS
#1
RESEARCH
QUESTION
• Does your original
search string need to
be modified? Did you
select an appropriate
database?
• Develop
understanding of
research question
and scope of topic
• Brainstorm
alternative
keywords/synony
ms for major
concepts
#2
SEARCH
STRATEGY
• 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

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

7. 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.

8. PEER REVIEW
1. Scientist writes a paper and submits it to a journal.
2. The editor sends the paper to other specialists in the field
for anonymous review of quality and originality
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–
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Was the work done properly
Is the discovery original
Is the subject appropriate for this journal
Will other scientists be able to understand and repeat the
experiments with the same results.
1. The Editor uses the comments to accept, reject or require
revisions.

9. Selected Journals in Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Environmental
 Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmenta
 Environmental Science and Technology
 Environmental Pollution
 Ground Water

10. Selected Journals in Civil and Environmental
Engineering
Structural
 Journal of Structural Engineering
 Journal of Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engin
Engi
 Computer-aided civil and infrastructure enginee
 Computers & Structures

11. 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

12. 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 58, 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

13. 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:
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Annual Review of Energy and the Environment
Annual Review of Fluid Mechanics

14. 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:
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Civil Engineering
Modern Steel Construction
ASTM Standardization News
Hazardous Waste Consultant

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. Examples of Handbooks
Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers
Handbook of Civil Engineering Calculations
Standard Handbook of Environmental
Engineering
 Handbook of Environmental Engineering
Calculations
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18. 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

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

20. 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

21. Flow of Scientific Information

22. 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.

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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
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26. Subject Databases (Search Engines)
for Civil Engineers
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Scopus
Scifinder Scholar (Chemistry Related)
Business Source Premier (trade magazines)
American Society of Civil Engineers
Environmental Protection Agency
Academic Search Premier – some coverage

27. 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

28. 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

29. 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
 You must open an account with Scifinder which is good for
your entire time at NJIT
 Several how-to guides are available at
http://www.cas.org/support/academic/sf/htg/index.html

30. 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
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31. American Society of Civil Engineers
Journals
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Journal of Bridge Engineering
Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering
Journal of Energy Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Geotechnical and Geoenvironmental Engin
Journal of Hydrologic Engineering
Journal of Structural Engineering

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

33. Environmental Protection Agency
(http://www.epa.gov)
Laws and Regulations
Environmental Issues
Environmental Test Methods and
Guidelines
 Chemicals: Scientific Review and
Assessment
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34. NJIT Library Home Page
http://library.njit.edu
 Catalog (Voyager)
– Database of the print holdings of NJIT Library
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Databases
Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery Form
Library Information
Search All – A New Feature

35. Search All
 Aggregates Several NJIT Databases
– Scopus
– Science Direct
– Wiley
– Academic Search Premier
 Can Limit by
– Peer Review
– Full-Text Availability at NJIT

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

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

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

39. Availability of Journals
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Print only
Electronic Only
Print and Electronic
– Dates of electronic availability vary
– Check Search Journals on Library Home Page
 Open Access Journals
 Not available at NJIT - order through
interlibrary loan

40. 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

41. 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

42. 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

43. 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

44. 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 973-5963210
 Bruce Slutsky, Technical Reference Librarian, at
Bruce.Slutsky@njit.edu or 973-642-4950

45. 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

46. 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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