Architectural Technology

  • Better by Design?: Architecture, Urban Planning, and the Good City by Paul L. Knox, Virginia Tech Publishing (2020). License: CC BY-NC-ND
    “In Better by Design? Paul Knox explores the intellectual roots of the design professions, showing how architects, planners, and other designers have traditionally interpreted their roles and implemented their ideas in cities across North America and the UK. Drawing on his long record of research and award-winning publications on the social production of the built environment, Knox offers a critical appraisal of their ultimate effectiveness in achieving the goal of creating and sustaining good cities.”
  • Introduction to Architecture by Kelsey Ferreira. Open Oregon Educational Resources (2021). License: CC BY-NC
    This Open Educational Resource (OER) is designed for learners interested in discovering how to appreciate the built environment. The text assumes no prior knowledge of architectural history and focuses on the vocabulary of architectural analysis, as well as case studies on individual architects and structures. This text does not focus on defining structural systems or move chronologically, and instead is intended as a series of mini-lessons on specific topics.
  • Introduction to Drafting and AutoCAD 2D by William Baumback, BC Campus Open Ed (2022). License: CC BY
    “Introduction to Drafting and AutoCAD 2D was written as a tool to guide and teach you to master AutoCAD. No two students learn at the same pace, therefore the eook was written with competency-based modules. The competency-based modules are bite-size pieces that allow you to work at your own pace. They can be used to learn by distance education, correspondence, online, instructor-lead classes, or by individuals teaching themselves to use AutoCAD in their own home or office.”
  • Introduction to Drafting and AutoCAD 3D by William Baumback, BC Campus Open Ed (2022). License: CC BY
    “This book is a tool to guide and teach you to master AutoCAD 3D. No two students learn at the same pace, therefore the book was written with competency-based modules. The competency-based modules are bite-size pieces that allows you to work at your own pace. They can be used to learn by distance education, correspondence, online, instructor-lead classes, or by individuals teaching themselves to use AutoCAD in their own home or office.”
  • Interpretation of Metal Fab Drawings by Cameren Moran (2021). License: CC BY
    “Interpreting metal fab drawings is a course that introduces the principles of interpretation and application of industrial fabrication drawings. Basic principles and techniques of metal fabrication are introduced by planning and construction of fixtures used in fabrication from drawings. Basic tools and equipment for layout fitting of welded fabrications are utilized. This course will utilize blueprints and welding symbols and will apply them in classroom and in shop as practical assignments.”
  • Roman Architecture, by Diana E. E. Kleiner, open course, Open Yale Courses (2009). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This course is an introduction to the great buildings and engineering marvels of Rome and its empire, with an emphasis on urban planning and individual monuments and their decoration, including mural painting. While architectural developments in Rome, Pompeii, and Central Italy are highlighted, the course also provides a survey of sites and structures in what are now North Italy, Sicily, France, Spain, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, and North Africa.”
  • Structural Mechanics, by Tomasz Wierzbicki, MIT Open Courseworks (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This text covers the fundamental concepts of structural mechanics with applications to marine, civil, and mechanical structures. Topics include analysis of small deflections of beams, moderately large deflections of beams, columns, cables, and shafts; elastic and plastic buckling of columns, thin walled sections and plates; exact and approximate methods; energy methods; principle of virtual work; introduction to failure analysis of structures. We will include examples from civil, mechanical, offshore, and ship structures such as the collision and grounding of ships.”
  • Surveying and Mapping, by Christian Tiberius, Hans van der Marel, René Reudink and Freek van Leijen, TU Delft Open (2021). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This book provides an introduction, at academic level, into the field of surveying and mapping…This book covers a wide range of measurement techniques, from land surveying, GPS/GNSS and remote sensing to the associated data processing, the underlying coordinate reference systems, as well as the analysis and visualization of the acquired geospatial information.”
  • Tutorials of Visual Graphic Communication Programs for Interior Design, by Yongyeon Cho, Iowa State University (2021).
    “This book is for the beginning level of both architecture and interior design students who learn computer graphic communication software. The author developed multiple tutorials to teach three computer graphic applications, AutoCAD, Revit, and Enscape. AutoCAD is an essential computer drafting software which is 2D drawing software. Revit is a Building Information Modeling software, which is 3D based modeling software. Lastly, Enscape is a real-time rendering, animation, and virtual reality plug-in for users’ 4D experiences.”

Communication Design

Computer Engineering Technology

  • Advanced Mobile Robotics: Volume 1, by DaeEun Kim, MDPI – Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (2020). License: CC BY-NC-ND
  • Computer-Aided Design, by Gary Benenson, Open syllabus, CUNY Academic Works (2018).
  • Computer Networks: A Systems Approach, by Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie, Larry Peterson and Bruce Davie (2019). License: CC BY
    “What available technologies would serve as the underlying building blocks, and what kind of software architecture would you design to integrate these building blocks into an effective communication service? Answering this question is the overriding goal of this book—to describe the available building materials and then to show how they can be used to construct a network from the ground up.”
  • Digital Circuit Projects: An Overview of Digital Circuits Through Implementing Integrated Circuits, by Charles Kann, Gettysburg College (2014). License: CC BY
    “Digital circuits, often called Integrated Circuits or ICs, are the central building blocks of a Central Processing Unit (CPU). To understand how a computer works, it is essential to understand the digital circuits which make up the CPU. This text introduces the most important of these digital circuits; adders, decoders, multiplexers, D flip-flops, and simple state machines.”
  • Evidence-based Software Engineering, by Derek M. Jones, Knowledge Software (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This book discusses what is currently known about software engineering, based on an analysis of all the publicly available data. This aim is not as ambitious as it sounds, because there is not a great deal of data publicly available. The intent is to provide material that is useful to professional developers working in industry; until recently researchers in software engineering have been more interested in vanity work, promoted by ego and bluster.”
  • A First Course in Electrical and Computer Engineering, by Louis Scharf, E-textbook, OpenStax CNX (2009). License: CC BY
    “This book was written for an experimental freshman course at the University of Colorado. The course is now an elective that the majority of our electrical and computer engineering students take in the second semester of their freshman year, just before their first circuits course.”
  • Technical Writing Essentials by Susan Last, University of Victoria (2019). License: CC BY
    “This open textbook is designed to introduce readers to the basics of technical communication: audience and task analysis in workplace contexts, clear and concise communications style, effective document design, teamwork and collaboration, and fundamental research skills.”

Computer Systems Technology

  • Algoritmiek, by M. de Weerdt, open course, Delft University of Technology (2011). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This course treats various methods to design and analyze datastructures and algorithms for a wide range of problems.”
  • Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity, by CyberWatch West, Whatcom Community College. License: CC BY
    “Students will address basic security concepts as they apply to critical infrastructure systems.”
  • Database Design – 2nd Edition, by Adrienne Watt, BCcampus (2014). License: CC BY
    “This second edition of Database Design book covers the concepts used in database systems and the database design process.”
  • Delftse Foundations of Computation, by Stefan Hugtenburg and Neil Yorke-Smith, TU Delft Open (2018). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Delftse Foundations of Computation is a textbook for a one quarter introductory course in theoretical computer science. It includes topics from propositional and predicate logic, proof techniques, set theory and the theory of computation, along with practical applications to computer science. It has no prerequisites other than a general familiarity with computer programming.”
  • Making Games with Python & Pygame, by Al Sweigart, Independent (2012). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This book will teach you how to make graphical computer games in the Python programming language using the Pygame library.This book assumes you know a little bit about Python or programming in general.”
  • Patterns for Beginning Programmers, by David Bernstein, James Madison University (2022). License: CC BY
    “Programming patterns are solutions to problems that require the creation of a small fragment of code that will be part of a larger program. Hence, this book is about teaching you how to write such fragments of code. However, it is not about teaching you the syntax of the statements in the fragments, it assumes that you already know the syntax. Instead, it is about finding solutions to problems that arise when first learning to program.”
  • Programming Languages: Application and Interpretation, by Shriram Krishnamurthi, Brown University (2007). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Unlike some other textbooks, this one does not follow a top-down narrative. Rather it has the flow of a conversation, with backtracking. We will often build up programs incrementally, just as a pair of programmers would. We will include mistakes, not because I don’t know the answer, but because this is the best way for you to learn. Including mistakes makes it impossible for you to read passively: you must instead engage with the material, because you can never be sure of the veracity of what you’re reading.”
  • Web Accessibility for Developers, by Digital Education Strategies, The Chang School, Independent (2019). License: CC BY
    “Web Accessibility for Developers is a technical book aimed primarily at programmers. Learn how to develop accessible interactivity on the Web and gain expertise using WAI-ARIA, a W3C specification that enables optimal use of assistive technologies, like screen readers, when navigating the Web.”

Construction Management & Civil Engineering Technology

  • Applied Fluid Mechanics Lab Manual, by Habib Ahmari, Shah Md Imran Kabir, Ginny Bowers, Mavs Open Press (2019). License: CC BY
    “This lab manual provides students with the theory, practical applications, objectives, and laboratory procedure of ten experiments. The manual also includes educational videos showing how student should run each experiment and a workbook for organizing data collected in the lab and preparing result tables and charts.”
  • Basics of Fluid Mechanics, by Genick Bar-Meir, Potto Project (2014). License: Free Documentation License (GNU)
    “The topic of fluid mechanics is common to several disciplines: mechanical engineering, aerospace engineering, chemical engineering, and civil engineering. In fact, it is also related to disciplines like industrial engineering, and electrical engineering. While the emphasis is somewhat different in this book, the common material is presented and hopefully can be used by all. One can only admire the wonderful advances done by the previous geniuses who work in this field. In this book it is hoped to insert, what and when a certain model is suitable than other models.”
  • Building with Nature & Beyond: Principles for designing nature based engineering solutions, by Jill H. Slinger, TU Delft Open (2021). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This book is based upon the edX MOOCs Engineering: Building with Nature and Beyond Engineering: Building with Nature. The Engineering: Building with Nature MOOC, explores the use of natural materials and ecological processes in achieving effective and sustainable hydraulic infrastructure designs, distilling Engineering and Ecological Design Principles.”
  • Coastal Dynamics by Judith Bosboom and Marcel J.F. Stive, TU Delft (2021). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    ““This textbook on Coastal Dynamics focuses on the interrelation between physical wave, flow and sediment transport phenomena and the resulting morphodynamics of a wide variety of coastal systems.”
  • Fundamentals of Infrastructure Management, by Donald Coffelt and Chris Hendrickson, Donald Coffelt and Chris Hendrickson (2017). License: CC BY-SA
    “The text draws examples and discusses a wide variety of infrastructure systems, including roadways, telecommunications, power generation, buildings and systems of infrastructure.”
  • Land Use, by ChristianTurner, Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction eLangdell Press (2014). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This text explores the laws governing the use of land. Sometimes narrowly focused, often intensely local, land use regulation may give the impression of a highly specialized field with small stakes.”
  • Project Management for Construction: Fundamental Concepts for Owners, Engineers, Architects and Builders, by Chris Hendrickson, Carnegie Mellon University (2008).
  • Repairing Infrastructures: The Maintenance of Materiality and Power, by Christopher R. Henke and Benjamin Sims, The MIT Press (2020). License: CC BY-NC
    “Infrastructures—communication, food, transportation, energy, and information—are all around us, and their enduring function and influence depend on the constant work of repair. In this book, Christopher Henke and Benjamin Sims explore the causes and consequences of the strange, ambivalent, and increasingly central role of infrastructure repair in modern life.”

Electrical Engineering & Telecommunications Technologies

  • AC Electrical Circuit Analysis: A Practical Approach, by James M. Fiore, dissidents (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “The goal of this text is to introduce the theory and practical application of analysis of AC electrical circuits. It assumes familiarity with DC circuit analysis.”
  • Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 1 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. (English), by Kempster Miller, George Patterson, Charles Thom, Robert Millikan, and Samuel McMeen, Project Gutenberg (2005). License: Public Domain
  • Data Communication Networks, by Dimitri Bertsekan and Eytan Modiano, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare (2002). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Focuses on the fundamentals of data communication networks. One goal is to give some insight into the rationale of why networks are structured the way they are today and to understand the issues facing the designers of the next-generation.”
  • DC Electrical Circuit Analysis: A Practical Approach, by James M. Fiore, dissidents (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “The goal of this text is to introduce the theory and practical application of analysis of DC electrical circuits.”
  • Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering I, by Don Johnson, OpenStax CNX (2014). License: CC BY
    “The course focuses on the creation, manipulation, transmission, and reception of information by electronic means. Elementary signal theory; time- and frequency-domain analysis; Sampling Theorem. Digital information theory; digital transmission of analog signals; error-correcting codes.”
  • Introduction to Electronics by Tim Grebner, Minnesota State Opendora (2019). License: CC BY-NC
    “The advent of electronics has had a profound impact on our lives and impacted nearly every product that we use either directly or indirectly. Without electronics, present day computers, cell phones, stereos, televisions, and the internet would not be possible. And of course, without computers and modern communications tools, society could not have made the huge strides in fields such as medicine, aerospace technologies, meteorology, transportation, agriculture, education, and many others. It is for these reasons that the invention of the transistor is considered as one of the most important technological advancements in history.”
  • Telecommunications Regulation Handbook : Tenth Anniversary Edition, by Colin Blackman and Lara Srivastava, Open Knowledge Repository (2011). License: CC BY

Entertainment Technology

  • Digital Video Production, by Jonathan Fallen, OpenStax CNX (2010).
  • Exploring Movie Construction & Production: What’s so exciting about movies?, by John Reich, SUNY Open Textbooks (2017). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Exploring Movie Construction & Production contains eight chapters of the major areas of film construction and production. The discussion covers theme, genre, narrative structure, character portrayal, story, plot, directing style, cinematography, and editing.”
  • Interactive and Non-Linear Narrative: Theory and Practice, by Beth Coleman, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare (2006).
  • Interactive Multimedia – Multimedia Production and Digital Storytelling, by Dragan Cvetković, IntechOpen (2019).
    “Multimedia is the common name for media that combine more than one type of individual medium to create a single unit. Interactive media are the means of communication in which the outputs depend on the inputs made by the user. This book contains 11 chapters that are divided into two sections: Interactive Multimedia and Education and Interactive Multimedia and Medicine.”
  • An Introduction to Technical Theatre, by Tal Sanders, Independent (2018). License: CC BY-NC
    “Intended as a resource for both secondary and post-secondary theatre courses, this text provides a comprehensive overview of technical theatre, including terminology and general practices.”
  • Music and Technology: Sound Design, by Florian Hollerweger, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare (2016). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “In this course, we will rebuild the everyday sounds of nature, machines, and animals from scratch and encapsulate them in dynamic sound objects which can be embedded into computer games, animations, movies, virtual environments, sound installations, and theatre productions.”
  • Tools for Podcasting, by Jill Olmsted, American University (2019). License: CC BY-NC
    “If you’re interested in learning about the growing universe of podcasting, how it works and finding tools and inspiration to create your own podcast, this online resource is for you. My focus is on audio podcasting and this practical guide will help you navigate the technology and best practices in an easy-to-understand handbook.”

Environmental Control Technology

  • Basic HVAC, by Aaron Lee, BCcampus (2021). License: CC BY
    “This readily accessible online introductory resource was developed for anyone who has interest in, or works with, HVAC controls and equipment. Designed for electrical and HVAC apprentices learning about the subject in school, you will find the descriptive text and original diagrams easy to navigate through, while the question bank will help students review the subject matter covered in each section.”
  • Building Maintenance & Construction: Tools and Maintenance Tasks, by Clifford Rutherford, University of Hawaii Manoa (2018). License: CC BY
    “Building Maintenance & Construction: Tools and Maintenance Tasks introduces and develops knowledge of basic building maintenance tools and materials, applied skills and techniques, industry health and safety standards, and preventive maintenance and troubleshooting practices required by employers for entry-level positions in the building trades and facilities maintenance fields.”
  • Ethical Dimensions of Renewable Energy and Sustainability Systems (BIOET 533), by Erich W. Schienke, Penn State University Libraries – ROAM, open course. License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This course presents an examination of ethical issues relevant to systems-based research procedures, professional conduct, social and environmental impacts, and embedded ethics in research and professional practice in RESS based jobs.”
  • Future Energy: Opportunities & Challenges, by Thomas W. Kerlin, The University of Tennessee (2013, 2021). License: CC BY
    “How can we produce enough sustainable energy while avoiding unacceptable environmental consequences? To evaluate the various energy options, we must understand the science of each potential energy source and energy use technology. Future Energy: Opportunities & Challenges was originally published in 2013 by the International Society of Automation. Rights for this work have been reverted to the authors by the original publisher. The author has chosen to license this work with a Creative Commons license.”
  • HVAC System, by Mohsen Sheikholeslami Kandelousi, IntechOpen (2018).
    “In this book, various aspects of heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems are investigated. HVAC systems are milestones of building mechanical systems that provide thermal comfort for occupants accompanied with indoor air quality.”
  • Refrigeration, by Orhan Ekren, IntechOpen (2017).
    “The importance and wide application range of the refrigeration require new techniques and researches. In this respect, the scope and topics of the book are: Multistage refrigeration cycle analysis, Electrocaloric cooling method, Food chilling-freezing methods and equipments, CFD modeling of airflow in the display cabinet, Industrial application of refrigeration, Energy-efficient air-conditioning system comparison, Capacity modulation methods for energy-efficient refrigeration.”
  • Sustainable Air Conditioning Systems, by Chaouki Ghenai, IntechOpen (2018).
    “This book intends to provide the reader with a comprehensive overview of the current state of the art in sustainable air conditioning technologies and focus on the most recent research and development on green air conditioning systems including energy-efficient and renewable energy-based air conditioning systems.”

Mechanical Engineering Technology

  • Design and Manufacturing I, by Daniel Frey and David Gossard, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare (2009). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This course is a first subject in engineering design. With your help, this course will be a great learning experience exposing you to interesting material, challenging you to think deeply, and providing skills useful in professional practice.”
  • The Draughtsman’s Handbook of Plan and Map Drawing Including instructions for the preparation of engineering, architectural, and mechanical drawings. (English), by George G.André, Project Gutenberg (1874/2018). License: Public Domain
  • Engineering Dynamics, by J. Kim Vandive and David Gossard, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare. License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This course is an introduction to the dynamics and vibrations of lumped-parameter models of mechanical systems. Topics covered include kinematics, force-momentum formulation for systems of particles and rigid bodies in planar motion, work-energy concepts, virtual displacements and virtual work.”
  • Engineering Statics: Open and Interactive, by Daniel Baker, Colorado State University, and William Haynes, Massachusetts Maritime Academy (2020). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “Textbook appropriate for anyone who wishes to learn more about vectors, forces, moments, static equilibrium, and the properties of shapes. Specifically, it has been written to be the textbook for Engineering Mechanics: Statics, the first course in the Engineering Mechanics series offered in most university-level engineering programs.”
  • Industrial Design Intelligence: A Cognitive Approach to Engineering, by Ted Selker, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare (2003). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This class investigates cognitive science and technology as it is applied to the industrial design process. The class introduces prototyping techniques and approaches for objective evaluation as part of the design process.”
  • Introduction to Industrial Engineering, by Bonnie Boardman, Mavs Open Press (2020). License: CC BY
    “This book was created for an undergraduate Introduction to Industrial Engineering course at The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA). The chapters give an overview of the profession and an introduction to some of the tools used by industrial engineers in industry.”
  • Mechanics & Materials I, by Carol Livermore, open course, MIT OpenCourseWare (2006). License: CC BY-NC-SA
    “This course provides an introduction to the mechanics of solids with applications to science and engineering. We emphasize the three essential features of all mechanics analyses, namely: (a) the geometry of the motion and/or deformation of the structure, and conditions of geometric fit, (b) the forces on and within structures and assemblages; and (c) the physical aspects of the structural system (including material properties) which quantify relations between the forces and motions/deformation.”
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