LibGuides: Architecture resources: Home

Key databases: Architecture

AJ Buildings Library This link opens in a new window
A database of more than 1,900 exemplar projects, most from the last twenty years but includes major projects back to 1900.

For online access to Architects' Journal, access via the SUPrimo record for this journal.
Registration required to access this resource. Please follow these instructions to register your account before accessing the resource for the first time. EMAP's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy can be viewed via links in the user registration form. Once you have registered an account use this to log-in to both AJ Buildings Library and Architects' Journal. (Please note that users must register a separate account for access to Architectural Review.)
Art, Design & Architecture Collection‎ This link opens in a new window
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Art, Design & Architecture Collection from ProQuest contains specialist abstract and indexing databases in the fields of visual and applied arts, plus full-text access to a selection of Arts & Humanities journals.
Featured databases include ARTbibliographies Modern (modern and contemporary art), Design and Applied Arts Index (design and crafts) and the International Bibliography of Art (Western art history).
Dates of coverage: 1973 - current.
Subject coverage includes: fine art, art history, architecture, design and applied arts
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter either your DS username and password or your University email address and password where prompted.
Compendex [Engineering Village] This link opens in a new window
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Compendex database via the Engineering Village database platform.
Compendex is the most comprehensive interdisciplinary engineering database in the world with over 9 million records referencing 5,000 engineering journals and conference materials dating from 1884. Subject coverage includes nuclear technology, bioengineering, transportation, chemical and process engineering, light and optical technology, agricultural engineering and food technology, computers and data processing, applied physics, electronics and communications, control, civil, mechanical, materials, petroleum, aerospace and automotive engineering.

A detailed guide to Engineering Village is available at: Engineering Village LibGuide
Strathclyde users must sign in to access many library eResources. Please follow any on-screen instructions and enter either your DS username and password or your University email address and password where prompted.
Construction Information Service This link opens in a new window
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The Construction Information Service Online (CIS Online) provides electronic access to technical information including an index to a selection of standards, regulatory and advisory documents, guidance and other material for the UK construction industry. The online service provides bibliographic data such as document titles and summaries plus full text images, either Adobe pdf format or scanned facsimiles.
Access to this resource requires users to register and log in using an individual account. Registration instructions can be found here. You must register using your University of Strathclyde email address. For security reasons, please do not reuse your University password when registering your account. Links to S&P Global's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use are available on the login/registration page.
Detail Inspiration This link opens in a new window
DETAIL inspiration is designed to be a high-quality research and inspiration source for architects and structural engineers. It contains detailed building project descriptions, drawings, generous pictures and offers information on architects and manufacturers.
Ordnance Survey Digimap This link opens in a new window
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Digimap is an online map and data delivery service, offering a number of data collections. Ordnance Survey Digimap contains contemporary Ordnance Survey maps and map data. Scottish Improvement Service data collection is also included but not as a Roam overlay only as downloaded GIS data.

Please note - downloading data for use in GIS or CAD applications requires specialised software which is NOT available on PCs in the Library.
Use your University DS login.
All users must register an account with EDINA upon accessing the Digimap service for the first time. EDINA's Privacy Notice can be accessed via a link in the registration form. All users must agree to the end user licence for the relevant Digimap Collection(s) they wish to access.
Specify-It This link opens in a new window
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Specify-It contains product and supplier information for a wide range of engineering areas including building, civil engineering, process and electronic and electrical. It provides up to date product catalogues. The service allows users to search for and identify products and suppliers to meet their exact project requirements - and to have immediate access to full-text, full-colour catalogues, data sheets, selector guides and brochures from the relevant suppliers listed. It includes over 175,000 documents from more than 10,000 manufacturers and suppliers.
Access to this resource requires users to register and log in using an individual account. Registration instructions can be found here. You must register using your University of Strathclyde email address. For security reasons, please do not reuse your University password when registering your account. Links to S&P Global's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use are available on the login/registration page.

Literature review

Searching for literature and understanding how that interlinks with writing up your findings and influencing new ideas for your research is a vital skill. The graphic below may help you to understand these processes and how they are inter-linked.

Useful templates

Literature search planning template
This a word template which will help you design your search strategy.
Literature search management
It is always a good idea to record your literature search strategy with the date, resource searched and the results. This is an example spreadsheet.
Synthesis Matrix
A synthesis matrix helps you bring together articles/research on the same theme.

Faculty Librarian

Alasdair Stewart

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Subjects: Advanced Forming Research Centre, AFRC, Architecture, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical & Process Engineering, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Design, Manufacture & Engineering Management, Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Engineering, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Naval Architecture, Ocean & Marine Engineering, Prosthetics & Orthotics

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Related guides

Civil and Environmental Engineering
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Useful shelf numbers

Library books are arranged by the Dewey Decimal classification scheme whereby each subject is represented by a number.

You wil find books on the same subject will have the same number. The shelfmark is preceded by the letter D and will be followed by 3 letters, which are usually the first 3 letters of the author's name.

Here are some useful shelfmarks.

D 624.1 Structural engineering and underground construction

D 691 Building materials

D 720 Architecture (general)

D 721 Architectural structure

D 729 Design and decoration