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Electronic Database Searching

Several important databases in engineering are available through the library. These are mostly used to locate articles in professional journals, trade magazines and conference proceedings. Students and faculty can search these databases free of charge. Most are available via the Worldwide Web.

Applied Science & Technology Abstracts. 1983-present.
References articles in journals, magazines and trade publications in engineering, technology and construction management. This is a particularly good database for searches on construction topics.

COMPENDEX. 1980-present.
This is equivalent to the Engineering Index, however, it is much more powerful than the printed index. Includes most journals and major conference proceedings in engineering and construction. It allows you to customize a search using subject terms, keywords, author names, title words and other categories. Searches can also be limited by, for example, journal title, conference name and language. Each record on this database, as with most others, includes citations and abstracts, not the full text of articles.

Civil Engineering Database (ASCE). This database is limited to the publications of the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Environmental Engineering Abstracts 1990-present.
Focuses specifically on environmental topics.

Mechanical Engineering Abstracts1981-present.
Indexes journals articles and conference papers specific to mechanical engineering.

    NTIS. 1980-present.
    Consists of references to reports held by the National Technical Information Service. This includes reports of most research done under contract to the U.S. Government.

    Web of Science (Science Citation Index). 1973-present.
    Provides comprehensive citation searching of the scientific literature.

Searching on online databases is also available but only on a cost-recovery basis. We subscribe to the DIALOG and STN online services and have access to over 400 databases. If you have questions about the materials and services mentioned in this guide or questions about anything having to do with the library system at Colorado State, feel free to contact Mike Culbertson at 491-1874 or (email:) E-mail address of Michael Culbertson.