The Internet Resource Guide for Electrical Engineers

The Pennsylvania State University

By: Garrett Hipkins
February 11, 2015

Table of Contents
I.

Preface
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.

Guide Content
Purpose and Intended Audience
Guide Organization
Tips to Using the Guide
Guide Assumptions

2
2
2
3
3

II.

Relevant Information/Articles
a. Institute for Electrical and Electronics Engineers

i. Website for industry standards, professional

databases, and discussion forums.

b. EE Times
i. Website for latest news articles, opinion
blogs, and events.

III.

General Information
a. The Standard Electrical Dictionary
i. Electrical Engineering specific dictionary.
b. Statistical Abstract of the United States
i. Database that contains statistical abstracts
on various topics about the United States.
c. Electrical Engineering Portal
i. Website containing many useful tools,

IV.

6
7
8

equations, and software for electrical

engineers.

Professional Documentation
a. The Fusion Energy Option
i. Professional Journal that discusses nuclear
fusion technology.
b. Catalog of U.S. Government Publications
i. Source for United States Government
reports.
c. Directory of Open Access Journals
i. Database of professional journals and
articles.

9
10
11

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Preface

Guide Content

The Internet Resource Guide for Electrical Engineers comprises a multitude of online
resources that are beneficial to electrical engineers at The Pennsylvania State
University. This guide contains abstracts about useful websites, periodical indices,
government reports, professional journals, and statistical abstracts. Each of the
abstracts describe what the resource is, what the resource contains, why the
resource is relevant and helpful to electrical engineers, and finally some useful tips
on how to use the resource.

Purpose and Intended Audience

The purpose of The Internet Resource Guide for Electrical Engineers is to provide a
collaborative and all-encompassing resource that assists in the search for electrical
engineering information and databases. The guides intended audience is freshman
to senior Pennsylvania State University electrical engineering students. The guide is
to be used as a tool to alleviate time spent searching the Internet and help you as the
reader efficiently find what you are looking for.

Guide Organization

This guide is organized according to documentation type. In the early stages of the
guide, you will find online resources pertaining to electrical engineering related
news. Midway through this document, you will find more generalized information
regarding electrical engineering such as resources that provide equations,
definitions, how-to documents, etc. Finally, at the end you will find more advanced
documentations such as professional journals, government documentation, and
statistical abstracts. As indicated in the table of contents, the headings for each
section of the document are relevant information/articles resources, general
information resources, and finally professional documentation.








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Tips on Using the Guide

In order to get the most out of The Internet Resource Guide for Electrical Engineers,
there are some tips on effectively using the document. As indicated in the Guide
Organization section, you are intended to start your search at the Table of Contents
section. The Table of Contents is the best place to begin a resource search because
this provides some minor information about the specific online resource. This is
intended to help you have an idea if that resource is what they are looking for
without going to that page number first and finding out it is not what you were
looking for. If you do wish to find out more information after reading the one
sentence summary, then you may proceed to the indicated page.

Another unique function of this resource guide is that you can navigate to any part
of the document from the Table of Contents. The way in which you do this is by
hovering your mouse pointer over the blue text that describes the particular
resource you want to go to and holding control while you click on the text. When
you control click this text, the document will automatically take you to the part of
the text you want to go. Each page also has a way back to the table of contents by
control clicking the table of contents text at the bottom of each page. Please note
some versions of Word do not make you hit the control button when you click. For
example, Mac versions of Word just have you click on the highlighted text to move to
the desired location. This format allows you to quickly navigate through the
document.

Guide Assumptions

This guide is intended for Pennsylvania State University students in electrical
engineering. It is assumed that the students have access to a computer and are able
to use one. It is also assumed that students are capable of using Microsoft Word as
the software platform for this Internet resource guide. Users of The Internet
Resource Guide for Electrical Engineers should also have a basic understanding of
how to browse and navigate websites. Finally, it is assumed that students should
understand basic electrical engineering terminology.









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Relevant Information/Articles

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)

Website

Location and Information
Address: https://www.ieee.org/index.html

Description
The institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE, usually shortened to
eye-triple-ee) is a professional association whose intent is to create a collaborative
and innovative environment on a global scale. IEEE is a leader in electronic
standards throughout all industries. The IEEE website is useful because the website
contains electrical standards for all industries as well as professional papers,
conference summaries, and educational activities. This website is useful to electrical
engineers because it allows engineers to communicate and collaborate on projects
and standards through a central location. This website can also help electrical
engineers stay up to date on the latest technology keeping them ahead in their ever
growing industry.


Useful Tips
The website has a lot of useful tabs that help you navigate through the
website. In order to find the particular section of the website, you need to
physically click on the link in order to see the drop down menus.
The front page of the website shows all of the latest articles that are relevant
to electrical engineering and IEEE allowing you to easily keep up with the
latest news.
On the right hand side, there is a section that allows you to sign up and
become an IEEE member for a fee. When that section is clicked, there is a
part that allows students to become a member and it describes the benefits
and qualifications.













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EE Times
Website

Location and information
Address: http://www.eetimes.com
Sponsor: UBM Tech

Description
This website is a resource that contains electrical engineering stories and news
throughout the world. The website is a mix of collaborative discussion boards
opinionated forums, and news stories based on certain topics. This website allows
electrical engineers to discuss new topics and be more up to date with the latest
technology. One of the most important aspects of being an electrical engineer is to
pay attention to the news, especially on topics related to electronics, power
production, antenna, etc. A nice aspect of this website is that you are able to discuss
and offer your opinions on certain subject matter allowing for greater
understanding of the material discussed.

Tips
This website has a lot of different areas for you to click on. There seems to be
a lot of advertisements on the sides, but that is simply because it is a growing
website. The navigation area is about halfway down the page allowing you to
go to the discussion page or going to some news pages.
There is a nice breaking news ticker that allows you to easily see the latest
news in the field.


















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General Information

The Standard Electrical Dictionary

Website

Location and Information
Address: http://www.gutenberg.org/files/26535/26535-pdf.pdf
Author(s): T OConor Slone
Year: 2008

Description
This pdf is a comprehensive dictionary for electrical engineers. The dictionary
consists of words and phrases that are used in the electrical engineering industry.
The dictionary has words from magnetic permeability to the telegraphic alphabet.
As you can see, the dictionary has a very wide range of topics that electrical
engineers could find useful. This is useful to electrical engineers by being able to
look up some words or phrases that one may not know. There are also useful
diagrams and pictures that will help you better understand the material that they
are trying to look up. Students who are new to the major are encouraged to browse
this document and get a better understanding of basic electrical engineering
terminology. This also is useful for research or graduate students because it
contains a lot of words that may be found in research papers or thesis papers.

Tips
The link above takes you to an online storage website. When the webpage
loads, you have to choose the format you want to view the dictionary in. The
recommended format is PDF. When you come to the webpage, click on the
PDF link and the dictionary will come up.
The document does not have any table of contents so the word look up
process is somewhat taxing. However, if you use the find feature built into
each computer (ctrl+F) and type in the phrase you are working for, it works
well.
At the very bottom of the document, there is an appendix where it provides
an alphabetical list of all the words in the dictionary and what page number
they are found. This appendix is a good place to start when navigating the
document.









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Statistical Abstract of the United States

Statistical Abstract Database

Location and Information
Address: http://statabs.proquest.com/sa/?id=2e1f25ac-f0fd-4dc3-9aa2-
6bdb6610fccb
Sponsor(s): ProQuest

Description
This online resource is a statistical information database based off of United States
Census results. This source has a wide variety of statistical information from
country population statistics to arts, recreation, and travel statistics. This site is
useful to students who want to find statistics in relation to electrical engineering.
These statistical abstracts may appeal to graduate students as background
information for their introduction sections within their thesis papers or research
projects. The statistics found on this database could help research personnel find
potential areas of work. This database is also useful if you want to find out more on
a specific type of engineering major in case you have questions about whether
electrical engineering is right for you. For example, if one wanted to find out salary
information for electrical engineers with respect to other engineering majors, they
would use this online resource to do so. First, use the search bar at the top and type
in Electrical Engineering Salary, then press enter. This brings up two statistical
abstracts to look at. One of the results is called Starting Salaries for New College
Graduates by Degree and Field of Study. Click on the abstract link and a small
window appears showing a table with relevant salary statistics about the different
engineering majors. If you do not want to be so specific, on the left-hand side of the
websites home page, there are different categories that have statistical information
present. If you click on a topic, all of the statistical abstracts that are listed under the
topic appear. You then can apply filters on the left side of the webpage that helps
you narrow your search even further.

Tips
The use of the search bar is the most direct method for finding what you are
looking for.
Applying filters helps you get to the information you want more efficiently.
Each abstract contains already formatted citations in MLA and APA format as
well as information about publication and original source.






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Electrical Engineering Portal

Website

Location and Information
Address: http://electrical-engineering-portal.com/
Sponsor(s): CsanyiGroup

Description
This website is an online resource that is intended to be a massive centralized
database for any sort of electrical engineering topic you can think of. The websites
mission is to provide scientific electrical engineering information to the general
public. There is a wide range of content on this site. Anything from basic electrical
engineering theorem like ohms law and Thevenin equivalency to free software
download for cable design to documentation on industry standards and practices.
The content that is on this website is truly remarkable and a fantastic place to find
information for electrical engineers of all experience levels. Whether you are a
student who is reviewing some basic formulas or a senior engineer brushing up on
Programmable Logic Control coding techniques, there is information to be found for
you. The website also allows you to collaborate with fellow electrical engineers in
discussion boards and comment sections.

Tips
The dropdown menus at the top of the webpage are very useful in terms of
navigation.
At the bottom of the screen, there are links to downloadable software in excel
format and other software platforms that perform calculations for you and
help you with your designs.
If you find a guide or excel worksheet you want to download, click on the
blue or green circle next to the description. This will take you to a small
abstract of the file you are about to download. Look for a Download header
and click the Here link.












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Professional Documentation

The Fusion Energy Option

Professional Journal

Location and Information
Address: http://www.osti.gov/scitech/servlets/purl/7280686
Author(s): Loren C. Schmid
Sponsor: U.S. Energy Research and Development Administration
Publisher: Battelle Memorial Institute
Year: Mid 1970s

Description
This professional journal is a summary of the United States Energy Research and
Developments Administration research for a fusion alternative energy resource. For
those that are not familiar with fusion technology, nuclear fusion is the use of super-
heated gas, called plasma, to make atoms collide. The atoms are moving so quickly
that, when these collisions occur, the atoms fuse together producing an immense
amount of heat. This journal provides a basic understanding of fusion technology
and how useful of a resource it can be. This document is very unique because it
shows what the Administration was predicting for the future of energy production.
The other way in which this document is unique is that the information discussed in
this journal is becoming a big factor today. The technology discussed within this
document may seem old, but this provides a great way to catch up to the technology
that is currently being researched and will be exploited in the near future. This
timeless document contains explanations on the energy crisis, facts on why fusion is
the best generation source, and diagrams of the different types of reactors that
could be used for fusion technology. This information is useful if you are trying to
keep up with the new and latest technology in the world today. Even though this
journal is estimated to be from the mid 1970s, it provides you with a very
comprehensive understanding of what fusion research institutions are working on
in todays technological world. This document is great for students who are thinking
of working in the energy production side of electrical engineering.

Tips
As you are reading through the document, take note of the headings. These
will help you save time by not reading anything you do not intend to.
Unfortunately, there is no table of contents to help you go to a specific part of
the document.
At the very end of the journal, there are very helpful graphs, diagrams, and
equations that help you get a strong understanding of the different aspects of
nuclear fusion.



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Catalog of U.S. Government Publications

Publication Database

Location and Information
Address: http://catalog.gpo.gov/F/?func=find-d-0&local_base=GPO01PUB&
clear_level=2
Sponsor(s): U.S. Government Publishing Office
Specific Report Credentials:
Ye, Zhihong. Study and Development of Anti-Islanding Control for Synchronous
Machine-Based Distributed Generators. National Renewable Energy
Laboratory. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Mar. 2004. Web. 4
February 2015.

Description
This website is a database for United States Government Publications. This website
is full of different reports from different government agencies. There is a wide range
of topics from reports on copper assessments of Southeast Asia and Melanesia to
investigations of photoluminescence and photocurrent in quantum well
heterostructures. As you can see, this database is a very vast and useful tool for
finding information on specific subjects. For example, a search for electrical
engineering control systems returned a document called Study and Development of
Anti-Islanding Control for Synchronous Machine-Based Distributed Generators. The
bibliography for this particular report is found above. This report is a summary on
the use of new control schemes for generators to increase performance by detection
of islanding. The report shows many different control systems schematics and
provides in-depth equations on how these schematics function. This document is a
great example of the sophistication that this government database produces.
Graduate students and research personnel will find this database especially
resourceful. The reports that are held in this database are very useful if you are
looking for more sources for research documentation or thesis papers, and it is also
useful to see what other people are doing in your field of research.

Tips
The database is very easy to use. Simply type in keywords in the three search
boxes up at the top of the page.
The search boxes allow you to include or not include certain words when
searching for the right type of documentation. This is where the dropdown
menu with the AND on it is used. This drop down menu can change to OR
and NOT as well, allowing you to customize your search.
The database main page has a couple of search hints at the bottom that you
should briefly read through before searching for a document.


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Directory of Open Access Journals

Online List of Periodicals

Location and Information
Address: http://doaj.org/
Sponsor(s): http://doaj.org/sponsors

Description
This online resource is an index of journals and articles written by a multitude of
different professionals. This online resource is specific to electrical and nuclear
engineering. The website is free to the public and requires no Penn State or other
school or business account information. This website contains many articles and
journals on anything from internal medicine to the social sciences. The uniqueness
of this database is its very user friendly and easy to navigate. Many other online
resources that have lists of scientific journals or articles can be difficult to search
through or they may not be user friendly. This index of periodicals has a very
visually appealing design and provides a search bar at the very top of the page. This
allows for maximum efficiency when looking for a specific article. This online
resource would be useful for research students looking for information on what sort
of information is already out there about their specific field of study. This website is
also relevant to undergraduate students who have an interest in pursuing graduate
school or even pursuing a research position at a research institution outside of Penn
State. This resource is more beneficial than the Penn State account access ones
because you can take this into the work force after you have concluded your studies
at Penn State.

Tips
When searching for an article or journal, use the advanced search features to
narrow your search criteria.
When looking at the results, pay attention to the details provided on each
result. These include country, subjects the article satisfies, publication date,
ISBN, etc. This information could affect the type of material that is present in
the article or journal.
Use the search tab at the top to go to the search menu. On the left-hand side,
there are a lot of drop down menus you can utilize. This toolbar on the left
side of the page acts as an advanced search option and assists with shrinking
down the number of results.
In order to download the full text, there is a full text link on each result that
downloads the entirety of the document. There is also an abstract section
that gives you information about the document before downloading.


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