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College of Engineering

Technical Reports Databases & Collections

What are Technical Reports?

A technical report is a document that describes the process, progress, or results of technical or scientific research or the state of a technical or scientific research problem.  They are prepared for internal or wider distribution by many organizations.  Technical reports often present cutting edge research before being published in journals or conferences.

Technical Reports Online

Standards

What are Standards?

Definition of "Standard":  "a recognized unit of comparison by which  the correctness of others can be determined."  Another definition is "a set of characteristics or qualities that describes features of a product, process, or service." Yet another definition is "a document, established by consensus that provides rules, guidelines, or characteristics for activities or their results" (World Intellectual Property Organization, 2010).  

Why do we have standards? "[Standards] simplify product development, reduce unnecessary duplication, lower costs, increase productivity, promote safety, and permit interchangeability, compatibility, and interoperability. They help to advance scientific discovery, and keep people safe by minimizing injuries and protecting key environmental resources."  "They make modern conveniences possible: light bulbs fit into lamps, electronic files are transferred over the Internet, trains move between states because the tracks are the same gauge ..."

from ANSI Course Why Standards Matter

 

Thank you to Matt Marsteller, Science and Engineering Librarian at Carnegie Mellon University (and Ms. Kokus' former teacher), for information on Standards and Technical Reports from his CMU LibGuides.

Who Produces Standards?

Standards are produced by scientific and professional organizations, trade organizations, and governments, nationally and internationally.  In the United States, American National Standards Institute (ANSI) coordinates many standards developing organizations (SDOs).  ANSI is also the sole U.S. representative to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).  Here's a list of Standards Developing Organizations (U.S. System).

Finding Standards and Standards Vendors