Environmental Science Archive - Science and Engineering University at Buffalo Libraries

Science and Engineering

Archive for the ‘Environmental Science’ Category

USGS Topo Data on the Go

National map topographic data from the USGS are now available on mobile devices that are using the Android or iOS operating system.

Android and iPhone users can now use their mobile devices as digital topo maps, leveraging USGS maps together with the power of GPS to zoom in on their precise location while hiking, biking, running, or any other activity that benefits from precision navigation. The type of data that are available includes USGS imagery and topographic maps from The National Map, as well as road and contour layers.Currently, two Android applications are using USGS data, OruxMaps (http://www.oruxmaps.com/index_en.html) and AlpineQuest (http://alpinequest.psyberia.net/). These apps include USGS services in the list of available online maps.For users that may be navigating in an area that is outside of cell phone coverage, Mobile Atlas Creator (http://mobac.sourceforge.net/) is allowing users of this desktop application to build small “mobile atlases” with USGS data. These “mobile atlases” can be built over any area of interest at multiple scales, and when completed, the small file is moved to the phone. The “mobile atlases” enable GPS applications on both iPhone and Android mobile devices. By storing this small amount of data on the phone, these “mobile atlases” ensure the topographic data is available even when cell coverage is not.

Users of mobile devices can use USGS data on their GPS-enabled phones to track their adventure or workout. This capability is new, and promises to increase awareness and use of USGS data and services, as well as increase demand for US Topos.

Additional Power Outlets Installed in Silverman Library

Need to plug in your laptop or phone on the 2nd floor of Silverman Library?

It’s now easier than ever!

Additional power outlets were installed on the second floor of Silverman Library during Spring Break. Each study table in the area near the windows now has six power outlets, making it easy to connect laptops, phones and other electronic devices without having to rearrange tables and chairs in that area.

“The University Libraries are continuing to push ubiquitous power sources for electronic devices in a long-range effort to enhance the study spaces we offer,” says Ken Hood, Facilities, Space Planning and Safety Officer for the Libraries. “Over winter break, we converted space formerly occupied by microforms on Silverman 2 into user space; and over spring break, we added power outlets in that new study space. This is another step towards our goal.”

Enjoy!

Find an Available Computer on Campus

Wouldn’t it be nice to know if a computer is available in the Cybrary or other public computing site before heading there? Now you can do just that!

The UBIT Find an Available Computer web page provides information about computer availability in various locations on north and south campuses. Try it at:

http://www.buffalo.edu/ubit/service-guides/computing-sites/available-cybrary-stations.html.

(Please note that some locations are still awaiting to have this feature added.)

Digital Editions of USGS Topo Quad Maps Available Online

If you need to obtain digital topo maps, USGS has been developing a collection of current and older topos that are free to download. The April 9 release of new maps covering Texas and New York continues the US Topo revisions, updates and product improvement.

These maps complement the paper editions in the UB Map Collection and provide access to earlier editions of maps for the states (currently, the UB Map Collection holds only the latest editions of state topo quad maps, except for NY and PA; these two states we have all editions).

The newest sets of US Topo maps cover the states of Texas and New York. The 4,309 quadrangles for Texas and 972 quads covering New York replace the existing US Topo maps for those states, and will be added to the USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection. All of these maps are available for free download from The National Map and the USGS Map Locator & Downloader website.

Last September, the USGS marked the important milestone of completing the initial round of US Topo map production for the 48 contiguous states. The agency is continuing to improve the US Topo map product, moving into the next round of national map revisions. Hawaii is currently in production and Alaska production will start later this year.

“The US Topo program is a dynamic product and the new maps for Texas and New York demonstrate our commitment to a very aggressive three year revision cycle while at the same time adding new content,” said Mike Cooley, the US Topo Project Manager. “I encourage you to take a look at these maps and drop us a comment on how we are doing via our drop box, as your input is important to us.”

Springer Protocols Database Acquired by the UB Libraries

Thanks to the UB Health Sciences Library, we are happy to announce the acquisition of a new science database, Springer Protocols. This reference database identifies and provides access to full-text content of an important component of the scientific and technical literature: laboratory protocols. Laboratory protocols are instructions for conducting specific tasks or experiments and focus on (authoritative) standard operating procedures and methods. Protocols give detailed, step-by-step instructions, lists of equipment and reagents and other resources needed to complete the task. In many instances, protocols also contain historical background information and derivations about the theories and hypotheses used, special tips and nuances, safety considerations, and references.

Springer Protocols is an inventory of more than 31,000 protocols in 15 broad subject categories, including cell biology, genetics and genomics, and infectious diseases, and includes a small and growing collection of video-procedures provided by the Journal of Visualized Experiments (JOVE). The UB Libraries also subscribes to the online version of Current Protocols, which provides easy, full-text access to thousands of basic and advanced research protocols in six categories of cell and molecular biology.

Users of the SciFinder database are alerted to the recent announcement from Springer Science & Business Media and the Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) on their collaboration to link new experimental procedures for chemical reactions covered by both Springer’s journals and the CAS databases, including SciFinder. This collaboration will link procedures published in 165 of Springer’s chemistry journals to SciFinder bibliographic records.

USGS to Discontinue Streamgages Due to Sequestration

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will discontinue operation of up to 375 streamgages nationwide due to budget cuts as a result of sequestration. Additional streamgages may be affected if partners reduce their funding to support USGS streamgages. The USGS is working to identify which streamgages will be impacted and will post this information as it becomes available. Streamgages are used nationwide to predict and address drought and flood conditions by monitoring water availability. The USGS and over 850 federal, state, and local agencies cooperatively fund the USGS streamgaging network, which consists of over 8,000 streamgages. When budget fluctuations occur, the network is impacted.

The following stations have been or are about to be discontinued due to the lack of funding http://streamstatsags.cr.usgs.gov/ThreatenedGages/ThreatenedGages.html. If you have questions about specific stations, please contact the individual identified for each State. If you have questions about the USGS National Streamflow Information Program in general, contact Mike Norris (603-226-7847; mnorris@usgs.gov) or Robert Mason (703-648-5305; rrmason@usgs.gov).

Open Access Journal Directory – New Milestones

Ever wonder whether there were any good open access journals in your field? The Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), launched in 2003, now lists over 8,000 peer reviewed journals. Simply put, open access (OA) journals are freely available to all readers on the Internet and do not have subscription charges. Many studies show that OA articles are downloaded and cited more than equivalent articles locked behind subscription walls.

Using DOAJ, journal titles can be searched using keywords and browsed by subject areas. They just announced two important milestones:

1) More than 1 million articles are now searchable in DOAJ. They expect this figure to increase significantly in the months to come.

2) More than 50% of the journals are providing metadata at article level.

In February, the White House issued a new directive that open access will be mandated for most federally funded research within the next year. Visit our Scholarly Communications web site for more information.

Stunning New Open Access Publication / Data Directive from the White House

On February 22, 2013, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy directed any federal agency spending more than $100 million per year on R&D to create open-access policies within the next six months. The policy will require all research articles funded by these agencies to be made open access (free-to-read) within 12 months of publication. In addition, digital data must be made publicly accessible. Naturally, classified research is exempted.

One option for fulfilling these upcoming requirements is to deposit your publications and data in our UB Institutional Repository. Our new Scholarly Communications web site has sections on publicly archiving your scholarship and on data management. These web pages contain the contact information for library staff that would be glad to discuss this new development with you.

Agencies covered by the new policy include the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Defense, Education, Energy, Homeland Security, and Transportation, as well as the EPA, FDA, NASA, and, mostly importantly, NSF. The White House announcement contains a link to the actual directive. A 3/7/2013 Chronicle of Higher Education article discusses the impact these new policies might have.

Database Snapshot: Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Full-text of the popular Springer book series Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS) includes Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence (LNAI) and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics (LNBI). Most volumes are conference proceedings. Major areas covered in this database are computer science, engineering, math, biology, statistics, GIS, information science, informatics, communication science, physics, bioinformatics, multimedia, and medical imaging. The database includes volumes from 1997-present. Some LNCS volumes in print are owned by the UB Libraries. Users can also refer to the LNCS/AI/BI Conference Acronym Index.

Tips for using Lecture Notes in Computer Science

Enter your terms in the search box in the blue bar (not the upper one). In the results list, full-text is noted with “Download PDF”. Refine your search using the left column of refine options. References for articles and related content are given on the item page.

2012 Knovel University Challenge

2012 Knovel University Challenge: More Questions, More Prizes!

The Challenge Has Begun!

Dates of the Contest: September 10 – December 1, 2012

Every year, the Knovel University Challenge allows students to compete for prizes while learning how to use Knovel, an engineering database and research tool that the UB Libraries subscribe to in order to make available the full-text of over 1,000 engineering handbooks that can help you with your homework and research.

Last year, students from more than 600 universities worldwide submitted more than 12,000 entries and a UB ENGINEERING STUDENT WAS THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER, taking home an iPad. We also had another UB engineering student win one of the contest-within-a-contest prizes. Let’s win again this year!

AND, this year there are even more opportunities to win, with new questions EVERY WEEK, and weekly prizes awarded as well. See below for the details.

What’s New: For the first time ever, there will be new questions and new winners EVERY WEEK, so there are even more opportunities for students to play and win great prizes, like Beats Audio earphones valued at $150 each and more. Knovel will also continue to award a randomly selected grand prize winner and the contest within the contest to schools with the highest number of participating students.

Who Should Play: The challenge is open to current engineering and science students. The only requirement is that you must use Knovel to answer the questions.

How to Play: Go to: http://www.knoveluniversitychallenge.com and click on the PLAY NOW button.

Note: There should be no need to log in to Knovel if you are on campus. If you are trying to access Knovel from off-campus, you should go instead to: http://libweb.lib.buffalo.edu/pdp/index.asp?ID=240 and from this page click on the name of the database: Knovel E-Books: Science and Engineering. It will ask you to authenticate with your UBIT name and password and then pass you in. Once connected, click on the University Challenge banner at the top of the screen. Also, if coming in from off-campus, if you usually run VPN (UB’s virtual proxy network software), turn it off. It interferes with authenticating/accessing library-subscription databases like Knovel.

Let the Games begin!