As used in a library context, databases are large collections of information, usually from varied creators, which are collected into a form that allows them to be searchable using simple keyword searches or advanced search queries using Boolean operators and can be refined with through the use of filters.
The information contained in the databases we provide access to at through the Mardigian Library is wide ranging including: articles, ebooks, technical standards, theses & dissertations, streaming video, conference proceedings, and datasets. The databases that I thought would be relevant to your likely research areas are found in this page, separated by the kind of information they contain and by the format through which the information is presented.
To do research that significantly crosses over into other areas of interest please visit the complete list of databases at UM-Dearborn by following THIS LINK and sort by your subject of interest.
To see the curated list of resources available in every format and for each engineering topic use THIS LINK.
The Mardigian Search on the library's home page is a very powerful tool in that it can perform a federated search of all the materials we have access to here at once. Use it as a starting point to help you find where to start your search but please do go into the individual databases that best fit your information need in order to do advanced searches and return all the best quality information on your topic.
If you are looking for articles you can read, in full, right now, limit your search to "full-text". Indexes, abstracts, and citation databases will help you find that certain material exists but will not link you to it. If you do find a citation you want to read in full, visit our Interlibrary Loan Guide for directions on obtaining a copy.
If you are looking for articles that have been vetted by others in the industry prior to their publication, limit your search to "peer-reviewed only".
American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Journals - AIAA journals present original research about concepts, methods of analysis, technical knowledge, exploratory developments, and new applications spanning the spectrum of aerospace science and technology.
Smithsonian Collections Online - Combines the full archive of Smithsonian Magazine and Air & Space Magazine. These magazines present a unique and comprehensive insight into history, science, nature, the arts, innovation, technology, and world culture.
ChiltonLibrary - Provides exclusive photographs, diagnostics designed by instructors, step-by-step repair procedures, Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) maintenance schedules, wiring diagrams, recalls, and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) for automobiles and light trucks.
SAE MOBILUS - This resource was previously known as: SAE Digital Library
Full text of every paper contained in the SAE Proceedings, Special Publications, and Transactions since 1906, as well as SAE Standards and E-Books. The digital library covers advancements in all areas of mobility engineering.
Small Engine Repair Reference Center (SERRC) - From off-campus, you will need to log in with your Michigan driver license (or ID).
Offers assistance in providing routine maintenance (tune-ups, brake service) as well as extensive repairs (engine and transmission disassembly) and allows users to search by product type, brand, model/engine type, specific area of model/engine type, and model numbers.
Wards Intelligence - Offers in-depth automotive industry data including automobile production, inventory, and sales data. Search or browse data reports available under the Data tab. Data are available as downloadable Excel files.
PubMed - A service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine that includes over 16 million citations from MEDLINE and other life science journals for biomedical articles back to the 1940s.
Nature Journals Online - Leading research papers in all scientific disciplines and provides lay readers who have an interest in science the best possible perspective of the scientific world. In addition to Nature, you can browse or search other Nature titles such as: Nature Biotechnology, Nature Chemistry, Nature Geoscience, Nature Materials, Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Physics, and Scientific American.
ACerS-NIST Phase Equilibria Diagrams Online - Online source of 23,000 critically evaluated phase diagrams for oxides, salts, carbides, nitrides, borides, compound semiconductors, and chalcogenides. Functionality includes:
• Search commentaries and diagrams by chemical system, published author's last name, volume, language, publication year, and figure number.
• View diagram's chemical system, figure number, figure notes, references, commentary, and footnotes.
• Manipulate diagrams with zoom in/out, lever rule, curve follow, mirror, Mol% to Wt% or Wt% to Mol%, and built-in calculator.
SciFindern - Produced by Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS), the most comprehensive database for the chemical literature, searchable by topic, author, substances by name or CAS Registry Number, OR use the editor to draw chemical structures, substructures, or reactions. It is a core research tool for chemistry, biochemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, nanotechnology, physics, environmental science and other science and engineering disciplines.
SpringerMaterials - comprises 400 Landolt-Börnstein volumes, 44,000 chemical safety documents, a subset of the Dortmund Data Bank Software & Separation Technology comprising 300,000 data points, and the Linus Pauling files on inorganic solid phases.
ASM Alloy Center - Search in one easy step across ASM property data, performance charts, and processing guidelines for specific metals and alloys. Includes data sheets and diagrams, an alloy finder, materials property data, coatings data, and corrosion data.
ASM Failure Analysis Center - Over 1,000 case histories along with authoritative handbook information on failure mechanisms and analysis methods. The Failure Analysis Center enables you to find specific information to help you quickly solve your own failure analysis or materials performance issues.
ASM Micrograph Database - The Micrograph Database is a comprehensive collection of micrograph images and associated data especially for industrially important alloys. Information captured for each image includes material designation and composition, processing history, service history, metallographic preparation/technique, magnification, significance of the structures shown, selected materials properties data, and other relevant data.
Material ConneXion Materials Database - Offers access to descriptions of innovative materials and processes. The database is searchable by specific criteria within the categories of processing, sustainability, usage, and physical properties. Manufacturer information is provided.
ASME Digital Collection (The American Society of Mechanical Engineers) - ASME conducts one of the largest technical publishing operations in the world, offering thousands of titles including some of the profession's most prestigious journals, conference proceedings, and ASME Press books.
Emerald Insight - Management and engineering journals published by MCB Press. Articles on engineering, management, operations, human resources, training, and other topics.
Faulkner's Advisory for Information Technology Studies - Reports on information technology topics that can be used for tracking technology advancements and trends, strategic planning, competitive analysis, market awareness, implementation support, product and vendor evaluation. The reports are written by researchers, analysts, and technical writers.
Gartner - This database contains a comprehensive body of technology knowledge and is a resource used by thousands of organizations to help decision makers capitalize on information technologies and markets.
AES E-Library - Articles and papers from the Audio Engineering Society from 1953 to present. Includes full-text articles from the peer reviewed Journal of the Audio Engineering Society as well as the society's convention and conference papers.
Optica Publishing Group - Formerly called Optics InfoBase. The journals of the Optical Society of America, plus OSA's major meetings (past and current). It also includes access to OSA's Optics ImageBank, containing more than 200,000 indexed images and figures from OSA journals.
SPIE Digital Library - The most extensive resource available on optics and photonics, providing access to more than 275,000 technical papers from the Society of Photographic Instrumentation Engineers journals and conference proceedings. More than 17,000 new research papers are added annually. Also included is access to SPIE e-books.
For links to other types of databases including Standards, eBooks, Citations, and Videos. Please visit the Engineering Resources: Databases and Technical Standards Guide.
Articles - If you are looking for a quick read, breaking information on a very current topic, or some very specific information, an article from a journal (also called a periodical, or a serial, or a magazine) is likely the resource for you.
Citations and indexes - If you are doing in-depth research on a topic and you want to ensure that you find a large amount of the information that is extant, indexes, abstracts, and citation databases may helpful. These will help you find that certain material exists and will help us gain access to it for you, but will usually not link you directly to it. If you find a citation you want to read in full, visit our Interlibrary Loan Guide for directions on obtaining a copy. These requests have to be processed individually by several participants and will take several days or weeks to be fulfilled so they are not useful for research that requires fast turnaround.
Conference Proceedings - Conference proceedings are published in conjunction with a one-time or a recurring meeting focused on a particular discipline. Serves as a forums for the presentation, scrutiny, and discussion of research and are usually peer-reviewed or refereed. These are most often found in academic journal databases along side other academic articles or on the webpage of the specific professional organization who hosted the conference.
eBooks - For an in-depth and comprehensive exploration on a topic a book may be the best choice. eBooks are identical in content to the print version of the same title and ISBN (International Standard Book Number, often found as the barcode on the back cover.) However, sometimes the images, tables and figures may not be formatted correctly or appear as aesthetically pleasing as in the print version. The eBooks available to you through the Mardigian Library are immediately accessible from your computer and most are able to be read by multiple users simultaneously. Often they allow downloading of a certain number of pages and by creating a personal account you can often mark them up online and save your personal notations.
Standards are a set of technical definitions and guidelines. A set of "how to" instructions for designers, manufacturers, and users. Standards promote safety, reliability, productivity, and efficiency in almost every industry. Standards can run from a few paragraphs to hundreds of pages, and are written by experts with knowledge and expertise in a particular field. There are many standards created by many governing bodies, licensing agencies, and accreditors. To see more detailed information on what standards are and how to use them follow THIS LINK. If you are ready to look for the standard that fits your present need click on the "Standards" tab in the box below.
Technical Reports - describe the process, progress, or result of ongoing research into a technical problem; may include recommendations for further study or offer conclusions; usually written by a researcher and often not peer reviewed outside the authors' organization.
Video Databases - These databases contain visual files and can deliver content which may be easier to understand by seeing it. Where eBooks sometimes fall short on the visual elements, video databases can allow you to witness "first hand" things you may ever get to see in person due to safety, temporal, or distance related reasons. These can be especially helpful when you want to see a system in action or when you are looking for easy to follow direction on performing a specific task.
White Papers - Written by industry practitioners or product or service vendors, "white papers" argue the benefits of a specific technology, product, or method for solving a specific problem; present research findings or give a list of tips for solving an issue; or highlight a product or service from a particular vendor.
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