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Research guide to architecture, design and civil engineering resources

Be efficient in your research and use the various databases, reference works and additional literature in the field of architecture, design and civil engineering.

Databases

We recommend that you search the databases in order to research and review up-to-date and discipline-specific content on a topic. They mostly contain references to resources as well as full text articles from journals. Depending on the database, additional types of publications such as conference reports, book chapters, pictures, videos and much more are included.

Overview

The table below provides an overview of the databases in the area of architecture and civil engineering. Please note that databases marked with an asterisk (*) require special access information. You will find more information in the details of each database.

Name Subject Content
archINFORM architecture references
Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals architecture references
Building Types Online architecture full texts
DETAIL inspiration architecture full texts, images
E-Periodica architecture, civil engineering, design full texts
Knovel engineering, material science full texts, facts, interactive equations
Materialarchiv material science full texts, facts
MATREC material science full texts, facts
SCHADIS* architecture, engineering full texts, laws, standards

* Requires access information. You will find more information in the details of each database.

Open access portals

Search for scientific publications that are worldwide freely available, also known as open access publications.

Reference works

Reference works are the ideal starting point for your research. In addition to defining concepts, they help you to gain an overview of a topic, narrow down a topic and find key concepts for future work.

All electronic reference works can be found and searched in ZHAW swisscovery. The selection of titles below provides you with a quick introduction to your specialist area. General reference works can also be found with the monolingual (in German) and multilingual dictionaries (in German).

Title Additional information
A Dictionary of Construction, Surveying and Civil Engineering There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of science and technology.
Companion to the History of Architecture -
Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology -
The Oxford Dictionary of Architecture There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of arts and architecture.

Bachelor's and master's theses

Master’s theses are located in the University Library Winterthur and are available to borrow. You will find the request form in ZHAW swisscovery.

For bachelor’s theses, please contact the Academic Office of the School of Architecture, Design and Civil Engineering.