UA Researchers to Develop Digital Civil Engineering Library

Ed Stiles
Sept. 25, 2001


University of Arizona researchers led by civil engineering Professor Muniram Budhu have received a $900,000 National Science Foundation grant to set up a web-based library of articles relating to civil engineering technologies.

Users will be able to customize the database for different audiences, such as K-12, college students, engineers, and news reporters.

The articles will be peer reviewed and also reviewed by users to ensure the information is accurate. Budhu says this is important because the quality of information on the web that deals with civil engineering subjects now varies widely. This site will provide users with information they know to be accurate, up-to-date and reviewed.

The digital library will be called the National Civil Engineering Resource Library (NCERL) and will include articles in areas such as water, roads, bridges, dams and structures. The articles also will include interactive multimedia content.

The library will include public domain material donated to the site by scholars and others. Initially, the articles will be written by Budhu, UA mining and geological engineering Associate Professor John Kemeny and UA agricultural and biosystems engineering Associate Professor William Rasmussen.

The researchers currently are organizing a panel to decide what materials will be most valuable to students, the public and the media. They are seeking teachers, science writers and others to serve on the panel. Those interested in serving should contact Muniram Budhu at 520-621-2145, budhu@u.arizona.edu

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