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AccessEngineering: Using AccessEngineering

Information on how to best use our engineering database: AccessEngineering

AccessEngineering

Available Training for AccessEngineering

Contact customersuccess@mheducation.com to request custom training, or view the additional options below.

General Overview Webinars: Sign up to attend an upcoming webinar providing an overview of site features and available content.

User Guides: Download a Quick Start Guide for performing basic functions on the site or the Platform User Guide for a detailed description of content types and site functionality. 

Video Tutorials: View our brief videos showing how to perform basic functions on the site.

AccessEngineering Personal Account

To register for a free personal account:

  • Click on the yellow My Account button in the site header
  • Select Log in via email/username
  • Click Register, then fill in the form with your name, email address, and a password 
  • (Optional) Select topics of interest to receive email alerts when new content is added in those areas

Personal account features include:

  • Create alerts for saved searches, updates to spreadsheet calculators, or new content added to the site
  • Add bookmarks or labels to organize content by categories and easily retrieve saved items
  • Save DataVis projects to continue where you left off or share with others

PLEASE NOTE:

  • Personal accounts are an optional feature and are not required to view or use any of the content on the site.
  • Personal accounts do not replace authentication via your institution; you must first be logged in through your institution to use AccessEngineering. 

AccessEngineering Personal Account Tutorial

Searching for Content in AccessEngineering

Searching:

  • Typeahead suggests matching taxonomy terms as you type
  • Results include matches on your exact search phrase, as well as matches on synonyms, sub-terms, and near-phrase matches
  • Related search terms and a dictionary definition appear in the search results
  • For more complex queries:
    • Boolean operators - power OR supply, power AND supply, power NOT supply
    • Grouping - (power AND supply) OR (power AND demand)
    • Wildcards - sup* will identify supply, support, superior

Browsing:

  • Three browsing taxonomies were created with the help of subject matter experts
  • Content is tagged to taxonomy terms using a semi-automated approach with context rules
  • Select multiple terms in the browse window, or use the search bar in the window to search the taxonomy
  • Browse options include:
    • Browse by Subject - drill down through 10 levels of terms, starting from the major engineering disciplines
    • Browse by Course - choose terms from course outlines 5 levels deep for 30 common engineering courses
    • Browse by Industry - see content tagged to 11 interdisciplinary industries

Result Filters:

  • Additional terms from browse taxonomies
  • Book Type (handbook, textbook, etc), Book Title and Book Author
  • Book Component (chapters, figures, tables, example problems)
  • Equations and Codes & Standards commentary

AccessEngineering Search Widget

Content Types in AccessEngineering

Books:

Search and read the latest editions of renowned engineering handbooks, reference, and upper-level textbooks.  Filter to specific book components including figures, tables, graphs, and example problems. Categories of books on AccessEngineering include:

Instructional Videos:

AccessEngineering has over 900 instructional videos created by engineering faculty that show step-by-step solutions to example problems.  All videos offer closed captioning and full transcripts.

Graphs & Tables:

AccessEngineering's interactive graphs and downloadable tables help users visualize and analyze data.  Pinpoint values on a graph or input specific values for the variables.  Download data from tables into an Excel spreadsheet for further data manipulation. 

Spreadsheet Calculators:

AccessEngineering’s Excel spreadsheet calculators contain embedded data and formulas to streamline complex calculations.  Download in Excel and save to your computer for offline use.

Case Studies:

Case Studies are designed to be used in case method teaching, presenting real-world examples of engineering applications along with questions and problems tied to specific ABET learning objectives.

What is AccessEngineering?

AccessEngineering is an award-winning engineering references and teaching platform that delivers world-renowed, interdisciplinary engineering content integrated with analytical teaching and learning tools. AccessEngineering prepares students to solve real-world problems, makes curriculum planning and delivery easy for faculty, and helps professionals find relevant information faster, driving increased ROI.

AccessEngineering Searching & Filtering Tutorial

AccessEngineering Browsing by Subject & Course Tutorial

AccessEngineering Using Book Content Tutorial

AccessEngineering Additional Content Types Tutorial

AccessEngineering Annotating with Hypothesis Tutorial

Guide created by and copied with permission from Ashley Weinheimer at LibGuides, McGraw-Hill Education