Zurich University
of Applied Sciences

Research guide to engineering resources

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

Databases

Name Content Guide
ACM Digital Library
  • Subjects: Computer science, information technology
  • Coverage: International, mostly English
  • Content: Journal articles, conference papers, books; focus on publications of the Association of Computing Machinery
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Gartner
  • Subjects: Computer science, technology, business
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Market analyses, reports, forecasts
    • Database not licensed for continuing education students.
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GreenFILE
  • Subjects: Environment, sustainability, climate change
  • Coverage: International, mostly English
  • Content: Focus on journal articles, some abstracts only; reports, government documents
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IEEE Xplore Digital Library
  • Subjects: Engineering, electrical engineering, computer science
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Journal articles, conference papers, books, standards
  • Special feature: Includes IEEE standards and many highly regarded journals, as well as one of the largest collections of publications in electrical engineering and computer science
 Video tutorials
Knovel
  • Subjects: Engineering, applied sciences
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Handbooks, technical reference works, interactive tools such as tables, equations, and diagrams
 Quick Start Guide
Multimedia Fluid Mechanics
  • Subject: Fluid mechanics
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Multimedia elements (videos, simulations), supplementing traditional teaching materials
  • Special feature: Visualisation and interactive explanations of physical phenomena
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Scientific.net
  • Subjects: Materials science, nanotechnology, mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, as well as physics and biology
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Journal articles and other publications released by Trans Tech Publications
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Springer Materials
  • Subjects: Materials science, physics, chemistry, engineering
  • Coverage: International, English
  • Content: Collection of materials, property types, and applications
  • Special feature: Supported by interactive tools for materials research and analysis
 Guides
zbMath – Zentralblatt für Mathematik
  • Subjects: Mathematics, theoretical sciences
  • Coverage: International, multilingual, abstracts mostly English
  • Content: Research articles, book reviews, conference papers
  • Special feature: Oldest and most comprehensive database for mathematical literature
 Video tutorials

Reference works

farbige Bücher stehen in einem Regal in der Hochschulbibliothek

Not sure where to start yet? Reference works are a good first step: they provide definitions, give an overview of a topic and help you find the right search terms for your research.

You can find all reference works in ZHAW swisscovery. To help you get started quickly in your specialist area, we have put together a selection of titles below. 

General reference works can be found with the monolingual and multilingual dictionaries.

Title Additional information
Aerospace Materials Handbook -
A Dictionary of Computer Science There are further reference works from Oxford on the topic of science and technology.
Cloud Computing There are further reference works from CRC Press on the topic of
communications engineering.
Comprehensive Renewable Energy -
CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics -
Encyclopedia of Materials: Science and Technology -
Handbook of Adhesion Technology There are further reference works from Springer on the topic of engineering.
Handbook of Clean Energy Systems -
Handbuch Industrie 4.0 There are further reference works from Springer on the topic of computer science.
Hommel interaktiv 15.0 Handbuch der gefährlichen Güter (ZHAW login required)
Natural Fiber Composites There are further reference works from CRC Press on the topic of materials engineering.
Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry -
The IEEE guide to writing in the engineering and technical fields -
VDI-Wärmeatlas -

Bachelor's and master's theses