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Civil engineering resources and support

Your Subject Librarian

Your Subject Librarian

Megan Cox

Other Queen's Building Library staff can answer your more general library queries.

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Civil engineering resources are available in these branch libraries

Also held in the Queen's Building Library:

  • Examination papers: You will find three years' worth of examination papers near the photocopier machines in the Queen's Building Library.
  • Special collections: The Queen's Building Library contains a small collection of rare books in engineering however most of these have now been removed to Special Collections. In Special Collections you will find the Brunel and Pugsley collections.
  • PhD theses: All Engineering Faculty PhD theses are kept in the Queen's Building Library, please ask a member of staff on how to obtain these.
  • MSc theses: Most Engineering Faculty MSc theses are kept in the Lower Reading Room of the Queen's Building Library.
  • MSc theses: Most Engineering Faculty MSc theses are kept in the Lower Reading Room of the Queen's Building Library.
  • UG Reports collection: Most Engineering Faculty UG reports are kept in the Lower Reading Room of the Queen's Building Library.

How to find books, journals, and more

Inter-Library Loans and ILL vouchers

The Inter-Library Loans (ILL) service can be used to obtain Items not held in print in the University's branch libraries or available online. There is a charge for this service, though it may be possible to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher to pay for this:

  • Civil Engineering academic staff and research postgraduates will usually be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher from the department.
  • Undergraduates and taught postgraduates may be able to obtain an Inter-library loan voucher from the department; your supervisor will direct you to the person from whom you can obtain one.

Information for academic staff and researchers

  • Our Research support pages cover finding information, managing information, and exploiting your research, together with sources of further help and advice.
  • Each academic department in the university has its own library representative, whose duties are detailed in these guidelines. The The Library Representative for Civil Engineering is Prof. Dawei Han.
  • New academic staff are welcome to contact the Subject Librarian to arrange a session on how the Library can help you.

Databases

Internet links

Gateways to civil engineering resources

  • Intute - a searchable gateway to quality resources on the web (Closed in 2011, and archived)
  • MetaLib: your resource gateway - the University of Bristol's Library Services resource gateway
  • SciCentral - a gateway to online science resources and breaking research news
  • Scirus - a searchable gateway to science resources on the web

Learned societies and other organisations

  • ARCOM - free full-text documents to download from the Association of Researchers in Construction Management
  • CIRIA - free full-text documents to download from the Construction Industry Research & Information Association
  • Health & Safety Executive - free full-text reports to download from the HSE

Learning resources

Quick reference tools

  • Quick reference handbooks can be found amongst the civil engineering book collection at TA in the Queen's Building Library, they will have red tape on their spine. Amongst others you will find Chen's Civil Engineering Handbook at TA151 CIV, Merritt's Standard Handbook for Civil Engineers at TA151 STA and Roark's Formulas for Stresses and Strains at TA407.2 ROA.
  • Language dictionaries in the civil engineering subject area are shelved in the Reference Books section at Ref TA9.

Information skills training for undergraduates

Note: some of the documents on this page are in PDF format. In order to view a PDF you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader Get Acrobat Reader

Information skills training for postgraduates

  • The Internet for civil engineers - A free 'teach yourself' tutorial on Internet information skills.
  • A number of general 'Self-learning resources' are available below, including video tutorials, downloadable library guides, and web resources.
  • Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

Self-learning resources

  • Video tutorials - topics include the Library Catalogue, understanding references on reading lists, using the MetaLib resource gateway, off-campus access to eResources, etc.
  • Finding and using information pages - covering key aspects of information skills, including researching a topic, effective use of Google, evaluating your search results, avoiding plagiarism, etc. Also includes a Jargon-buster page.
  • Library guides - downloadable guides to each branch library, our main search tools, special library services, etc.
  • External resources for developing your information skills - including online tutorials and downloadable guides.
  • Find out about referencing in your written work and EndNote referencing software in 'Referencing help'.

Referencing guidance

Referencing

  • General referencing guidance
    includes Why reference? What is included in a reference? Referencing styles, How to reference, Links to useful sites on referencing, and brief details of EndNote and EndNote Web referencing software (see the EndNote referencing software section below for more details).

Journal title abbreviations

Literature references are often written with abbreviated titles. An example is:

Thompson, M. R. 1969a. “Lime reactivity of Illinois soils” Proc ASCE: J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., 92.

Probably the most troublesome part of this is the Proc ASCE: J. Soil Mech. and Found. Div., as it can make finding the item difficult. To translate the abbreviation (to: Proceedings of the American Society of Civil Engineers: Journal of Soil Mechanics and Foundations Division) try consulting the resources mentioned below or ask your Subject Librarian for help.

  • All that JAS (Journal Abbreviation Sources)
  • SUNCAT - a searchable list of electronic and print journals in over 60 libraries in Britain.
  • There is also a print directory of journal title abbreviations called 'Periodical Title Abbreviations' and it is located at Ref Z6945.A2 PER in the Queen's Building Library
  • For general information, please visit the journal abbreviations page

Writing for the subject, and how to avoid plagiarism

EndNote referencing software

EndNote is the University of Bristol's recommended bibliographical management software, which can be used to collect, store, organise and manage references, and to output them as reference lists or bibliographies. A particularly useful function is 'Cite While You Write', enabling you to format Word documents, producing bibliographies and adding references within the text.