The information needed to provide support/evidence for or to understand client "needs", "gaps" in the world and project "scope" are all different types of information that may be found in different places. Below are some suggested starting places to start your searches for identifying project "scope".

If you are struggling to find information, please see the "Getting help!" tab on the left.

Identification of the "scope" of the project will, in addition to other types of information, include technical information written by engineers, researchers and technical professionals. Handbooks and books can provide information from experts in the engineering field that can help you understand the scope of what is feasible in your project in conjunction with client "needs" and the time you have for project completion. You may also find useful information in reports (government, consultant, organizational or technical). Technical journal articles, review articles, conference proceedings and professional journal articles (e.g. trade publications) may be useful in defining the project "scope".

Some good starting points to finding eBooks and eHandbooks are below:

Government, consultant, corporate and technical reports can often be found with an open search on the web. You may also find good information in the grey literature (e.g. customer reviews). This type of research can be difficult to do on your. Please ask for help at the Reference Help Desk.  Make sure you thoroughly check credibility of items you find online using the CRAAP test! Below are guides that will help you find reports and other information:

Use the databases below and select limits for technical journal articles, review articles, conference proceedings and professional journal articles (e.g. trade publications) when doing your search. Compendex and IEEEXplore are engineering specific databases. Proquest, Scopus and Web of Science are multidisciplinary.