Elsevier's Engineering Village Search Platform Combines the American Geological Institute's Georef Database With Google Maps

NEW YORK, May 20 /PRNewswire/ --

- New Mapping Tool Plots Geographical Search Results on a Digital Map, Providing Further Insight Into the Geographic Context of Results

Engineering Village, an Elsevier online search platform that provides database content and analysis for engineering researchers, announced today the addition of the American Geological Institute's GeoRef database to its content offerings. In addition, the new GeoRef database and Engineering Village's existing GeoBase database have both been 'mashed-up' with Google Maps to create a unique results mapping tool.

The additions optimize geosciences research by plotting geographic locations that are included in GeoRef and GeoBase search results on a digital map to show at-a-glance the areas of the world associated with a specific research topic. By providing a powerful visualization of results, Engineering Village gives users an alternate way to extract value from information.

"The new maps allow users to look at something other than standard citations and get a feel for the global nature of the research community," said Colby Ellis, president of Elsevier's Engineering and Technology Division. "This and other customer-driven features help Engineering Village improve the research experience, giving researchers the competitive advantage they need."

Mapping Specific Database Search Results

GeoRef provides Engineering Village with a comprehensive, in-depth history of geology and its subfields, featuring over 2.9 million records of geosciences literature. Its coverage of North American geology dates to 1785 and that of international geology dates to 1933; referencing scholarly journals, books, maps, conference papers, reports, and theses.

GeoRef compliments GeoBase, which is a unique multidisciplinary database supplying bibliographic information and abstracts for the earth sciences, including human geography, physical geography, environmental science, geology, and oceanography. Searching these databases on Engineering Village provides:

- Options for quickly refining or expanding search results so researchers find exactly what they need; and - Record tagging, groups, and other personalization tools for easy collaboration and organization of research, as well as customizable weekly alerts via email or RSS to keep researchers up-to-date with the latest publications in their fields.

Using Google Maps, search results from these two databases can be easily navigated by zooming in, zooming out, moving around, or rolling over an icon to find out which location it represents and how many records are associated with that location. Specifically, the mapping function enhances the users' search experience by:

- Giving a powerful visualization of the geographical features/locations most associated with research topics and where those features are located geographically; - Facilitating insight into the geographic context of increasingly important research topics, such as environmental trends; and - Displaying features or locations that researchers were not previously aware of or didn't initially think to associate with their research topic.

"The added combination of GeoRef with Google Maps to Engineering Village is another way Elsevier is providing users with both the comprehensive content and powerful tools they need for successful research," said Colby.

For more information please visit http://www.engineeringvillage.com/georef.

About Elsevier

Elsevier is a world-leading publisher of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. Working in partnership with the global science and health communities, Elsevier's 7,000 employees in over 70 offices worldwide publish more than 2,000 journals and 1,900 new books per year, in addition to offering a suite of innovative electronic products, such as Science Direct. (http://www.sciencedirect.com/), MDConsult ( http://www.mdconsult.com/), Scopus (http://www.info.scopus.com/), bibliographic databases, and online reference works.

Elsevier (http://www.elsevier.com/) is a global business headquartered in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and has offices worldwide. Elsevier is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc (http://www.reedelsevier.com/), a world-leading publisher and information provider. Operating in the science and medical, legal, education and business-to-business sectors, Reed Elsevier provides high-quality and flexible information solutions to users, with increasing emphasis on the Internet as a means of delivery. Reed Elsevier's ticker symbols are REN (Euronext Amsterdam), REL (London Stock Exchange), RUK and ENL (New York Stock Exchange).

Tom Reller, Director, Corporate Relations, T.reller@elsevier.com , +1-212-462-1912.