The purpose
of Micro-Press.com is to publish high-quality textbooks that focus
on the areas of MicroStation software, Architecture and Construction,
and Blueprint Reading techniques. We market to individual students,
colleges and universities, and specialized trainers and resellers.
We also feel that our customers should be able to purchase our texts
at the lowest possible cost. To this end, all our books are spiral
bound and have paper covers, the most cost-effective method of publishing.
We avoid the costly glossy-covered and glue-bound bindings that
would significantly increase our book prices.
All our textbooks are currently published as "hard-copy"
(i.e., a paper book). We do this because paper books are still very
relevant and have considerable advantages, even though electronic
publishing is widely available. Paper books are easy to read and
use anywhere.
However, we also offer our manuals and textbooks in eBook format for those who prefer to study from their computers in electronic form.
If you have already browsed this site you have noticed that the
nine textbooks and the continuing education courses are written
by myself. You will also have noticed my connection with Mohawk
College of Applied Arts and Technology, where I am a retired professor in
the Building Sciences department of the Engineering Technology faculty.
To provide a little more information that might help in deciding
whether the books will be of benefit in your own education or your
teaching assignments, I have listed below some of my reasons
for writing the books.
MicroStation Training
Manuals, 2D Levels 1 and 2, and 3D Level 3
These three training manuals, available in separate XM, V8, and V7 versions, are
designed to direct you through the complexities of MicroStation
so that you fully understand how the software works and that
you develop a full range of practical skill sets. It was important
to me that these books were equally effective in the classroom and as
self-paced courses. Consequently, I have presented most of the
information in step-by-step sequences that allows you to
easily retrace or repeat your actions. I have also tried to present
information in a natural progression that builds and reinforces
skill levels. There are two reasons why the instruction is divided
into three separate books. First, while the software is fairly intuitive,
it is still quite complex and I recommend that you budget
40 to 50 hours of computer time per book. Second,
it made sense to me divide the instruction between the basic commands
and drafting techniques in the first course, and the more complex,
but equally important higher level functions of the software covered
in the second and third courses.
Illustrated Residential
and Commercial Construction
This book is written specifically
for my Architectural Technicians and Technologists students to
assist in their architectural design, construction materials,
and estimating courses. It is also directed at the general public
wanting to gain considerable practical knowledge applicable to
residential design, construction materials, and construction techniques.
The information is tightly focused and intensely practical. While
this book took four years to write, it was also fun since the
entire book is hand-drawn and lettered in ink on mylar drafting
film. The six-course Residential Design and Construction program
was a natural offshoot of the book and my own college courses.
It is designed to allow other colleges or schools to easily and
quickly offer similar courses to their own general public.
Blueprint Reading
for the Construction Trades
This, my first book (now updated
in a 2nd Edition), is directed at tradespersons whose immediate
need is to understand how blueprint visualization works, not the
more intricate rules and practices of drafting. While anyone can
look at a blueprint and identify construction items and dimensions,
the significant skill is to visualize the building's shape, size,
and complexity in three dimensions and as it will look on the
job site. The thrust of this book is to develop that visualization
skill, first through the use of simple orthographic and isometric
exercises, then through the included set of residential blueprints.
Along the way, students not only learn to visualize, they also
learn to hand-sketch, read scale rules, and acquire a little construction
knowledge. You don't, of course, have to be a construction tradesperson
to benefit from this book!
I hope this information is of use to you. If you would like further information, please feel free to e-mail me through the Contact Us link here or on the left sidebar.
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