Finding Transportation Finding Transportation Information:Information:

A TutorialA Tutorial

Presented by:Presented by:Janet Bix Janet Bix Ohio Dept. of Transportation LibraryOhio Dept. of Transportation Library

Sponsored by the Midwest Transportation Sponsored by the Midwest Transportation Knowledge NetworkKnowledge Network

Objective:Objective:

To provide effective To provide effective methods for finding & methods for finding & evaluating transportation-evaluating transportation-related information on the related information on the InternetInternet

Before we start please Before we start please rememberremember

Anyone can post to the Internet. Confirm the Anyone can post to the Internet. Confirm the authority or expertise of individual or group authority or expertise of individual or group that created the web site. Compare what that created the web site. Compare what you find with reliable print resourcesyou find with reliable print resourcesavailable in your local or transportation available in your local or transportation library.library.

Check the currency of the web site you’ve Check the currency of the web site you’ve located.located.

Look for contact information for what you’ve Look for contact information for what you’ve located.located.

Search EngineSearch Engine

Site that provides capability of Site that provides capability of entering terms or other criteria to entering terms or other criteria to search an index of Web sitessearch an index of Web sites

(Examples are Google (Examples are Google http://www.google.comhttp://www.google.com, all the web , all the web

http://alltheweb.comhttp://alltheweb.com))

Web DirectoryWeb Directory

Web site which provides a large Web site which provides a large collection of links arranged in categories collection of links arranged in categories to enable browsing by subject area to enable browsing by subject area (Extreme searcher’s) Examples are Yahoo (Extreme searcher’s) Examples are Yahoo http://www.yahoo.comhttp://www.yahoo.com, ,

Open Directory Open Directory http://dmoz.orghttp://dmoz.org, , Librarians’ Index to the Internet Librarians’ Index to the Internet http://lii.orghttp://lii.org

Bibliographic DatabaseBibliographic DatabaseA computer file consisting of electronic entries called A computer file consisting of electronic entries called records, each containing a uniform description of a records, each containing a uniform description of a specific document or bibliographic item, usually specific document or bibliographic item, usually retrievable by author, title, subject heading retrievable by author, title, subject heading (descriptor) or keyword(s). Some bibliographic (descriptor) or keyword(s). Some bibliographic databases are general in scope and coverage, others databases are general in scope and coverage, others provide access to the literature of a specific discipline provide access to the literature of a specific discipline or group of disciplines. An increasing number provide or group of disciplines. An increasing number provide the full-text of at least a portion of the sources the full-text of at least a portion of the sources indexed. Most bibliographic databases are proprietary, indexed. Most bibliographic databases are proprietary, available by licensing agreement from vendors, or available by licensing agreement from vendors, or directly from the indexing and abstracting services directly from the indexing and abstracting services that create them that create them (Examples are Transportation (Examples are Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Research Information Services (TRIS) http://ntl.bts.gov/trishttp://ntl.bts.gov/tris and TRB’s Research-in-Progress and TRB’s Research-in-Progress http://rip.trb.orghttp://rip.trb.org))

Tip #1Tip #1

Use a search engine when Use a search engine when you are looking for something you are looking for something very specific.very specific.

Tip #2Tip #2Use a directory when what you are Use a directory when what you are looking for isn’t a unique or specific looking for isn’t a unique or specific item, when you want to know what item, when you want to know what kinds of materials are available on a kinds of materials are available on a particular topic or when you know particular topic or when you know there will be a huge amount of there will be a huge amount of information on your topic and you want information on your topic and you want a pre-selection list of good quality a pre-selection list of good quality pages.pages.

Tip #3Tip #3

Use a bibliographic database to find Use a bibliographic database to find peer-reviewed papers, articles, peer-reviewed papers, articles, publications, proceedings, when you publications, proceedings, when you need accurate, verifiable and reliable need accurate, verifiable and reliable information.information.

Boolean LogicBoolean LogicWay to combine terms using “operators” Way to combine terms using “operators” such and “AND,” “OR”, “AND NOT” and such and “AND,” “OR”, “AND NOT” and sometimes “NEAR”. AND requires all sometimes “NEAR”. AND requires all terms appear in the record. OR retrieves terms appear in the record. OR retrieves records with either term. AND NOT records with either term. AND NOT excludes terms. Parentheses may be excludes terms. Parentheses may be used to sequence operations and group used to sequence operations and group words. Always enclose terms joined by words. Always enclose terms joined by OR with parentheses. OR with parentheses.

Case SensitiveCase SensitiveCapital letters (upper case) retrieve Capital letters (upper case) retrieve only upper case. only upper case. Most search tools are not case sensitive Most search tools are not case sensitive or only respond to initial capitals, as in or only respond to initial capitals, as in proper names. proper names. It is always safe to key all lower case It is always safe to key all lower case (no capitals), because lower case will (no capitals), because lower case will always retrieve upper case. always retrieve upper case.

Field SearchingField Searching

Ability to limit a search by requiring Ability to limit a search by requiring word or phrase to appear in a specific word or phrase to appear in a specific field of documents (e.g., title, url, link)field of documents (e.g., title, url, link)

Phrase SearchPhrase Search

More than one KEYWORD, searched More than one KEYWORD, searched exactly as keyed (all terms required to exactly as keyed (all terms required to be in documents, in the order keyed)be in documents, in the order keyed) Enclosing keywords in quotations “ ” Enclosing keywords in quotations “ ” forms a phrase in AltaVista, and some forms a phrase in AltaVista, and some other search tools. Some times a other search tools. Some times a phrase is called a “character string.”phrase is called a “character string.”

Proximity (near)Proximity (near)

Ability to search for keywords that Ability to search for keywords that have a specified distance between have a specified distance between each other, and are in any ordereach other, and are in any order

NEAR retrieves records with keywords NEAR retrieves records with keywords within 10 words of each other. within 10 words of each other.

(Only search engine capable of this is (Only search engine capable of this is AltaVista).AltaVista).

StemmingStemmingIn keyword searching, word endings are In keyword searching, word endings are automatically removed (lines becomes automatically removed (lines becomes line)line)Searches are performed on the stem + Searches are performed on the stem + common endings (line or lines retrieves common endings (line or lines retrieves line, lines, line’s lines’, lining, lined).line, lines, line’s lines’, lining, lined).

TruncationTruncationAddition of a symbol at the beginning or Addition of a symbol at the beginning or end of a word stem in a keywords end of a word stem in a keywords search to retrieve variants containing search to retrieve variants containing the root the root Truncation is particularly useful in Truncation is particularly useful in retrieving both the singular and the retrieving both the singular and the plural forms of a word in the same plural forms of a word in the same search. search. Example sign* retrieves records Example sign* retrieves records containing sign, signs, signal, signals, containing sign, signs, signal, signals, significantly. significantly. Often the end truncation symbol is the * Often the end truncation symbol is the * (asterisk), but other symbols ?, $, etc (asterisk), but other symbols ?, $, etc may also be used. (AltaVista can may also be used. (AltaVista can

truncate.) truncate.)

Wild CardWild Card

The search software used in some The search software used in some bibliographic databases allows a special bibliographic databases allows a special character to be inserted in the middle character to be inserted in the middle of a search term in keyword searching of a search term in keyword searching to retrieve words containing any to retrieve words containing any character or no character in the character or no character in the position useful in retrieving irregular position useful in retrieving irregular plurals and variant spellings of a word.plurals and variant spellings of a word.

Once you’ve decided what tool to Once you’ve decided what tool to use, use,

read the instructions provided read the instructions provided at the site carefully!at the site carefully!

Read through the “Help”, “Search Read through the “Help”, “Search Tips” section, “How-to,” etc. any Tips” section, “How-to,” etc. any instructions that have been included instructions that have been included so you can learn how this search tool so you can learn how this search tool works.works.

Questions to ask yourself when Questions to ask yourself when using a search engine:using a search engine:

Is the default AND or OR?Is the default AND or OR?

Is there a default that limits Is there a default that limits the number of citations?the number of citations?

Is it case sensitive?Is it case sensitive?

Does it truncate?Does it truncate?

Can it search by proximity?Can it search by proximity?

Can it search phrases?Can it search phrases?

Can specific formats be Can specific formats be specified?specified?

Google Google www.google.comwww.google.com

Click on Advanced SearchClick on Advanced SearchThe advanced search option can provide more The advanced search option can provide more consistency and control.consistency and control.

You can use the first search box, You can use the first search box, With all the words With all the words http://www.google.com/http://www.google.com/

use the boolean operator ANDuse the boolean operator ANDpavement and preservationpavement and preservation, click on Google , click on Google SearchSearch

Results 1 - 10 of about 950,000Results 1 - 10 of about 950,000

You can limit this searchYou can limit this search

Choose the 2nd box With the Choose the 2nd box With the exact phrase exact phrase

Results 1 - 10 of about 43,800Results 1 - 10 of about 43,800

You can narrow again by doing a You can narrow again by doing a field search by arrowing down to field search by arrowing down to

OccurrencesOccurrences,,click on pull down menu, and click on pull down menu, and select in the title of the page. select in the title of the page. Click on Google SearchClick on Google Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 421Results 1 - 10 of about 421

Google Google www.google.comwww.google.com

Or you can limit by the type of file you want Or you can limit by the type of file you want by arrowing up to File Format. Click on the pull by arrowing up to File Format. Click on the pull down menu and select Microsoft down menu and select Microsoft PowerPoint .pptPowerPoint .ppt

Click again on Google Search.Click again on Google Search.Results 1 - 2 of about 2Results 1 - 2 of about 2

..

You can use Google’s power You can use Google’s power to search another web site:to search another web site:

Enter Enter pavement preservationpavement preservation in the 2nd box in the 2nd box With the exact phraseWith the exact phrase

Arrow down to Domain, click on the pull down Arrow down to Domain, click on the pull down menu and enter www.fhwa.dot.govmenu and enter www.fhwa.dot.gov

Click on Google SearchClick on Google Search

Results 1 - 10 of about 186Results 1 - 10 of about 186..

Google Google www.google.comwww.google.com

You can search for images. At the Google You can search for images. At the Google search screen, click on Images.search screen, click on Images.

Enter Enter pavement preservationpavement preservation. Click on . Click on Google Search.Google Search.

Results 1 - 20 or about 469.Results 1 - 20 or about 469.

You can also limit by excluding You can also limit by excluding words (without the words), date, words (without the words), date,

and languageand language..

For more web searching tips, search For more web searching tips, search engine listings, reports and comparisons engine listings, reports and comparisons visit visit Search EngineSearch Engine Showdown: the Users’ Showdown: the Users’ Guide to Web SearchingGuide to Web Searching at at http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/ or or Search Engine WatchSearch Engine Watch at at http://searchenginewatch.com http://searchenginewatch.com..

TRISTRISThe Transportation Research The Transportation Research Information Services (TRIS) Information Services (TRIS)

DatabaseDatabase World’s largest and most comprehensive World’s largest and most comprehensive

bibliographic resource on transportation bibliographic resource on transportation informationinformation

Produced and maintained by the Transportation Produced and maintained by the Transportation Research Board at the National Academy of Research Board at the National Academy of SciencesSciences

Sponsored by the State Departments of Sponsored by the State Departments of Transportation, the various administrations in the Transportation, the various administrations in the U.S. Department of Transportation, and other U.S. Department of Transportation, and other sponsors of TRB’s technical activitiessponsors of TRB’s technical activities

Contains over 535,000 records of published and Contains over 535,000 records of published and ongoing research on all modes and disciplines of ongoing research on all modes and disciplines of transportationtransportation

TRIS Online is available through TRIS Online is available through the National Transportation the National Transportation

Library’s Library’s web page at: web page at: http://ntl.bts.gov/trishttp://ntl.bts.gov/tris

Largest and most comprehensive source of Largest and most comprehensive source of information on published transportation research information on published transportation research on the Web. on the Web.

Joint project between the Bureau of Transportation Joint project between the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and the Transportation Research Statistics (BTS) and the Transportation Research BoardBoard

Research in Progress files and the international Research in Progress files and the international material in the International Transportation material in the International Transportation Research Documentation (ITRD) Database that are Research Documentation (ITRD) Database that are part of TRIS are not available as part of TRIS Onlinepart of TRIS are not available as part of TRIS Online

Remember the questions we asked before we began Remember the questions we asked before we began searching? Again we need to think about these searching? Again we need to think about these questions in formulating a search strategy for TRIS.questions in formulating a search strategy for TRIS.

Is the default AND or OR? The default is AND.Is the default AND or OR? The default is AND.

Is there a default that limits the number of citations Is there a default that limits the number of citations shown?shown?

TRIS Online defaults in the search period to the last 5 TRIS Online defaults in the search period to the last 5 years.years.

Is it case sensitive?Is it case sensitive?

TRIS is not case sensitiveTRIS is not case sensitive..Does it truncate? Yes, it automatically searches variations Does it truncate? Yes, it automatically searches variations of a key word (stemming). Stemming can be turned off of a key word (stemming). Stemming can be turned off by the use of the <WORD> operator or by quotes. Wild by the use of the <WORD> operator or by quotes. Wild Card searches use the * asterisk.Card searches use the * asterisk.

Can it search by proximity? <NEAR> can be used Can it search by proximity? <NEAR> can be used between keywords. between keywords.

Can it search phrases? Quotes should be placed around Can it search phrases? Quotes should be placed around keywords to phrase search or to stop a keyword from keywords to phrase search or to stop a keyword from stemming.stemming.

Can specific formats be specified? NoCan specific formats be specified? No

TRIS Online automatically searches variations of TRIS Online automatically searches variations of keywords, so if you don’t want a truncated search you keywords, so if you don’t want a truncated search you need to include “” around the word or phrase you are need to include “” around the word or phrase you are searching.searching.

EX. The keywords EX. The keywords traffic signtraffic sign will return will return citations that include the keywords sign, signs, citations that include the keywords sign, signs, signal, signals, & even significantly.signal, signals, & even significantly.

Display: 1-10 of 1667Display: 1-10 of 1667

ButBut “traffic sign” “traffic sign” or “traffic or “traffic signs”signs” will return citations that will return citations that

are about traffic signs.are about traffic signs.

Some citations may still deal Some citations may still deal with signals but signs will also with signals but signs will also

be addressed.be addressed.

Display 1-10 of 423Display 1-10 of 423

Or you can search Or you can search traffic traffic <word> sign or traffic <word> sign or traffic

<word> signs<word> signs and retrieve and retrieve the same results.the same results.

Need to find out what other Need to find out what other DOT’s are doing related to traffic DOT’s are doing related to traffic signs? Add the keywords signs? Add the keywords State State

Departments of TransportationDepartments of Transportation

Display 1 – 10 of 67Display 1 – 10 of 67

Be sure to examine the keyword or words you Be sure to examine the keyword or words you are using. For example, if you are looking for are using. For example, if you are looking for pavement markings, use the search strategy pavement markings, use the search strategy road marking or road markings road marking or road markings to to comprehensively explore this topic and the comprehensively explore this topic and the results will include road marking materials, results will include road marking materials, road marking tapes, road markings. road marking tapes, road markings.

Pavement marking(s) is not an indexing term Pavement marking(s) is not an indexing term of the TRIS database. Look at the bottom of a of the TRIS database. Look at the bottom of a TRIS record, and check the index terms to find TRIS record, and check the index terms to find the terms that TRIS indexers use to define the the terms that TRIS indexers use to define the literature.. literature..

Display 1 - 10 of 317Display 1 - 10 of 317

You can narrow your search by just You can narrow your search by just searching for searching for Pavement Marking or Pavement Marking or Pavement MarkingsPavement Markings in the title field. in the title field.Leave the check on article or book title, Leave the check on article or book title, and remove the default checks on and remove the default checks on abstract and keyword.abstract and keyword.

Display: 1-10 of 81Display: 1-10 of 81

You get a smaller, more targeted You get a smaller, more targeted search, but remember you will search, but remember you will have missed some informationhave missed some information..

If you are trying to locate an author, If you are trying to locate an author, Ex. Ex. Shad SargandShad Sargand, ,

remove checks from the defaults–article or remove checks from the defaults–article or book title, abstract, and keyword, and remove book title, abstract, and keyword, and remove the last 5 years default from the Search the last 5 years default from the Search Period, and enter Period, and enter sargand, s* sargand, s* Use the asterisk or wild card capability after Use the asterisk or wild card capability after the author’s 1st initial. the author’s 1st initial.

This will locate all forms of entry that may be This will locate all forms of entry that may be used, whether 1st initial is given, 1st and 2nd used, whether 1st initial is given, 1st and 2nd initial, or first name.initial, or first name.

Display: 1-10 of 23Display: 1-10 of 23

More TechniquesMore TechniquesWhen searching TRIS start your search by When searching TRIS start your search by

being specific, then if you get 0 hits or only a being specific, then if you get 0 hits or only a few, you can broaden your search terms. few, you can broaden your search terms.

For example, searching For example, searching bridge inspection bridge inspection technique*technique* results in 0, with the default set results in 0, with the default set

at Last 5 years for the search period.at Last 5 years for the search period.

Broaden the search period to All, Broaden the search period to All, and the results are 5 citations. and the results are 5 citations.

Searching the phrase Searching the phrase pavement pavement ruttingrutting returns 65 citations, returns 65 citations,

pavement and ruttingpavement and rutting returns returns

358.358.

Also you can use the * to search plurals other than Also you can use the * to search plurals other than (s). For example, if you’re looking for women (s). For example, if you’re looking for women engineers, search wom*n engineer* or female engineers, search wom*n engineer* or female engineer*.engineer*.ACRONYMS should be searched by using the acronym ACRONYMS should be searched by using the acronym as well as the complete name–as well as the complete name–NAFTANAFTA or North or North American Free Trade AgreementAmerican Free Trade Agreement, , PCC or PCC or portland cement concrete.portland cement concrete.

TRIS doesn’t ignore punctuation, so sometimes you TRIS doesn’t ignore punctuation, so sometimes you may have difficulty finding long titles. The truncation may have difficulty finding long titles. The truncation isn’t always consistent. Please consult your local isn’t always consistent. Please consult your local transportation librarian if you have questionstransportation librarian if you have questions. .

TRB’s Research-in-TRB’s Research-in-Progress DatabaseProgress Database

If you’d like to know what State DOT research projects are If you’d like to know what State DOT research projects are in progress, or if you want to avoid duplicating research in progress, or if you want to avoid duplicating research that has already been done, select TRB’s Research-In-that has already been done, select TRB’s Research-In-Progress Database.Progress Database.http://rip.trb.orghttp://rip.trb.org

RiP contains about 6,600 records of current or recently RiP contains about 6,600 records of current or recently completed transportation research projects. Each month completed transportation research projects. Each month about 100 new RiP projects are added to the database and about 100 new RiP projects are added to the database and another 150 RiP records are updated. Most of the RiP another 150 RiP records are updated. Most of the RiP records are projects funded by Federal and State records are projects funded by Federal and State Departments of Transportation. University transportation Departments of Transportation. University transportation research is also included. In 1998, the Transportation research is also included. In 1998, the Transportation Association of Canada began supplying records from its Association of Canada began supplying records from its Canadian Surface Transportation Research Database of RiP.Canadian Surface Transportation Research Database of RiP.

RiP Web site allows users to:RiP Web site allows users to: Search the entire Research in Progress Search the entire Research in Progress

Browse project records by subjectBrowse project records by subject Use a look up directory for individuals Use a look up directory for individuals

and organizationsand organizations Subscribe to receive e-mail notification of Subscribe to receive e-mail notification of

new RiP records in specific subject areasnew RiP records in specific subject areas Submit current research projects (Non-Submit current research projects (Non-

DOT person can submit with an online DOT person can submit with an online form.)form.)

Select the Advanced Search option in the Select the Advanced Search option in the upper left-hand corner of the screen. Enterupper left-hand corner of the screen. Enter Bridge ManagementBridge Management. The database . The database automatically assumes adjacentautomatically assumes adjacent words are a words are a phrase. phrase.

Click Submit Query. Click Submit Query.

Number of Matches: 31. Number of Matches: 31.

You can broaden the search by typing You can broaden the search by typing bridge* and bridge* and management,management, to make sure no project is missed. to make sure no project is missed.

To find out if a specific agency has a To find out if a specific agency has a bridge management project, arrow down bridge management project, arrow down to Sponsoring/Performing Organization. to Sponsoring/Performing Organization. At the pull down window click Select. In At the pull down window click Select. In the search box type Kansas Department the search box type Kansas Department of Transportation. Click the search box. of Transportation. Click the search box.

Click on the link.Click on the link. Then Click Submit Query. Then Click Submit Query. Result is Result is Corrosion of Bridge Corrosion of Bridge Components Caused by Utility Components Caused by Utility Cathodic Protection. Cathodic Protection.

RiP uses the * asterisk for RiP uses the * asterisk for truncation.truncation. Ex: life cycle Ex: life cycle

cost* and bridge*cost* and bridge*. .

Number of matches: 14.Number of matches: 14.

AcknowledgmentsAcknowledgmentsCarlson, Cindy. Carlson, Cindy. The Seven Commandments of Highly Effective Web SearchingThe Seven Commandments of Highly Effective Web Searching. . June 17, 2002. 12 Sept. 2003 <June 17, 2002. 12 Sept. 2003 <http://www.llrx.com/comumns/notes54.htmhttp://www.llrx.com/comumns/notes54.htm>>

Hock, Ran. Hock, Ran. The Extreme Searcher’s Web Finding ToolsThe Extreme Searcher’s Web Finding Tools, Workshop Presented for , Workshop Presented for the Central Ohio Chapter, Special Libraries Association, Columbus, OH April 23, the Central Ohio Chapter, Special Libraries Association, Columbus, OH April 23, 2003.2003.

Glossary of Internet & Web JargonGlossary of Internet & Web Jargon, University of California, Berkeley, Teaching , University of California, Berkeley, Teaching Library Internet Workshops. 12 Sept. 2003Library Internet Workshops. 12 Sept. 2003< < http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Glossary.html>TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Glossary.html>

Notess, Greg R. Notess, Greg R. Search Engine Showdown: The Users’ Guide to Web SearchingSearch Engine Showdown: The Users’ Guide to Web Searching. . 12 September 2003 <12 September 2003 <http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/http://www.searchengineshowdown.com/>>

Search Engine WatchSearch Engine Watch 12 September 2003 < 12 September 2003 <http://http://searchenginewatch.comsearchenginewatch.com.> .>

Reitz, Joan. M. Reitz, Joan. M. ODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information ScienceODLIS: Online Dictionary of Library and Information Science, , 2002. 12 Sept. 2003 <2002. 12 Sept. 2003 <http://http://www.wcsu.edu/library/odlis.htmlwww.wcsu.edu/library/odlis.html>>