Databases

For searching scientific literature and information on specific subjects, the Library offers a wide variety of specialized information retrieval systems or online databases, often including direct links to the full-text when you are using the VPN connection or the proxy server.

Categories

Online databases vary widely in content (subject areas, types of data included), form (abstracts or full articles) and search options and are acquired from many different producers and publishers. Most databases belong to the following main categories: 

• Factual databases / Reference works:
  databases holding factual information like corporate data, dictionaries, specialized handbooks. For example, Statista, Van Dale woordenboeken, GWWkosten, CompanyInfo.
• Specialized subject databases and bibliographies:
  overviews of publications about research on national and international levels, mainly in scientific journals and reports. For example, Inspec, SciFinderN, Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals.
• Journal databases by publisher:
  Large publishers of scientific journals often offer tools for (full text) searching of their own journal collections. For example, Elsevier ScienceDirect, Wiley Online Library, SpringerLINK, ACM digital library, IEEE/IEL Xplore.
• Abstract and Citation databases, for example Web of Science and Scopus
• Patents databases: Patents constitute an important information resource for scientific research. Checking whether patent information on a subject to be researched is available is therefore strongly recommended. A list of databases can be found here. You can protect your idea with help from the Intellectual Property (IP) Officers of The Gate.
• Technical standards databases
  • NEN Standards
    The TU/e Library no longer possesses a collection of printed NEN standards.
    Check the website of NEN, the Dutch office of technical standards, to make sure a standard is available. On request of and on payment by a department or subdepartment incidental orders for NEN standards can be placed. Contact the secretary of your own department/subdepartment for more information.
  • Architectural standards
    The BRIS Warenhuis database (in Dutch) contains full-text NEN standards related to Dutch building and construction legislation.
  • ANSI Standards
    ANSI standards in the field of Electrical Engineering are available in full text in database IEEE Xplore: Standards.
  • IEEE Standards
    All IEEE standards are available in full text in database IEEE Xplore: Standards.
  • SAE Standards
    SAE Digital Library includes abstracts of SAE standards.
  • IEC Standards
    No longer in the Library collection. For more information, please check the IEC website.

Literature not available?

Literature found in these databases is not always available at the TU/e Library. If not, documents may be requested from elsewhere via Inter Library Loan. Or it may be that you must adjust your search query. You can contact the Library education team for support in your search query.

Policy, training, purchase suggestions

The TU/e Library database collection fits to the needs and subjects of our university and tries to require a license on those. Databases can be especially relevant for systematic literature review and our Library education team can support you with that (for researchers and for students). If you think an important database is missing, do not hesitate to contact us or fill out the purchase order form.