As the go-to database for scientific research across the fields of physics, engineering, computer science and technology IET Inspec is trusted by prestigious research institutions across the globe.
IET Inspec and Inspec Analytics are continuously updated and improved to ensure that we are offering our customers extremely high-quality content, features, and metrics.
Three key areas of focus for IET Inspec include
Adding trusted content
To help our customers keep pace with the latest research.
Enriching Inspec records
To provide our customers with comprehensive records that support enhanced discovery and precision analytics.
Advancing functionality and analytic capability
To launch new features that are developed based on customer needs and feedback.
Please note: All forthcoming features and product developments are subject to change.
Adding trusted content
As a publisher-neutral database, IET Inspec keeps pace with the latest research by regularly reviewing and updating its list of indexed titles.
For additional information about our content, including a full list of journals indexed by Inspec, please visit our content and coverage webpage.
For additional information about the IET Inspec content and selection policy, view our information for publishers webpage.
2023 highlights
- Over 1.7 million records added: In 2023 Inspec added more than 1.7 million records, surpassing 24 million total indexed records.
- First to index new publications: In 2023 Inspec was the first database to accept content from newly launched titles including: APL Energy (AIP), APL Machine Learning (AIP), ASME Open Journal of Engineering (ASME), and ASCE OPEN: Multidisciplinary Journal of Civil Engineering (ASCE).
- SAE Technical Papers: Inspec commenced indexing of SAE Technical Papers, significantly expanding coverage of mechanical engineering content.
- J-STAGE: 14 additional titles from J-STAGE were accepted for indexing, expanding our coverage of valuable Japanese research content.
- AAAS: 2 titles from AAAS, Science Robotics and Science Advances, were also accepted for indexing.
- Chinese content enhancements: The first stage of improvements to the coverage of Chinese Journals were implemented in 2023, with further phases to follow in 2024.
What’s coming in 2024?
Inspec is pleased to share that more than 90 journals have been accepted for indexing beginning in January 2024.
- First to index new publications: In 2024 Inspec is the first database to accept content from newly launched titles including Biophotonics Discovery (SPIE) and APL Quantum (AIP). New launches from IEEE, ACM, IET will also be indexed during 2024.
- KeAI: A further 39 titles from the KeAI Journals portfolio will be added to Inspec, covering core subjects such as AI, Data Science, Energy, Materials, Transportation and Automation.
- Mary-Ann Liebert: Inspec will commence indexing of the following high-impact journals: 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, Astrobiology, Big Data, Soft Robotics, Telemedicine Journal and e-Health, Tissue Engineering.
- Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC): Inspec will index content from an additional 14 titles from Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) covering subject such as energy, environmental science and materials.
- ProQuest Dissertation & Theses: Inspec will expand coverage of this valuable source of early-stage research material, focusing on core engineering topics.
Enriching Inspec records
IET Inspec’s rigorous indexing process provides comprehensive records that support enhanced discovery and precision analytics.
Each year, the Inspec team conducts an assessment and update of the Inspec thesaurus against emerging research trends to reflect the latest scientific advances and keep pace with modern research. For detailed information about the most recent thesaurus updates, please visit our guides and support webpage.
In addition to annual thesaurus updates, the Inspec team also works to add new data fields to enrich Inspec records.
2023 highlights
- 2023 Thesaurus update: The 2023 annual thesaurus assessment resulted in: 18 new subject classification codes, 44 new controlled terms, and 91 new lead-ins.
- Preprints Document Type: Inspec launched a new document type specifically for Preprints, so that this valuable content is more easily discoverable. Inspec has indexed content from arXiv since 2015.
- CPC Codes: Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) codes were added to Inspec records from 2023. This was in addition to the existing International Patent Classification (IPC) codes already included in Inspec and provided another valuable way to identify relevant research content.
- Open Access identification: The number of items identified in Inspec as Open Access exceeded 4 million and more granular labelling was introduced, aligned to the Unpaywall Status labels (Gold, Green, Hybrid, Bronze)
- Funding data: Expanded the range of funding data, with Phase 2 of this project adding data from 2019-present to Inspec records.
What’s coming in 2024?
- 2024 Thesaurus update: The 2024 annual thesaurus assessment resulted in: 13 new subject classification code; 1 demoted code; 42 new controlled terms (including 7 promoted lead-ins); and 121 new lead-ins.
- Multimedia Document Type: In 2024 there are plans to add a further new document type to index video/multimedia content, including conference presentations.
- References data: Inspec will significantly expand the range of References data, increasing the volume of references relating to Inspec records and enabling further connections between research items.
- Improved research integrity process: A faster and more expansive way to handle Corrections, Retractions & Errata (CRE) will become operational in 2024.
- Additional datasets under investigation: Inspec is evaluating several additional datasets and tools to support research users, including Preprint-Journal article identification and linking.
Advancing functionality and analytic capability
IET Inspec develops new features based on customer needs and feedback to continue advancing the functionality and analytic capability of our products.
Ongoing work is done to maintain and improve workflows and vendor integrations to continue providing a quality experience for our customers and users.
What’s coming to Inspec Analytics in 2024?
- Saved Searches: Adding the ability to save favourite pages, filters & views and access them through a personal dashboard.
- Landing redirect: Auto-redirect users from known customer IP ranges to their institution pages.
- Integration with vendor platforms: Improved linking from vendor platforms to Inspec Analytics concept pages, and ‘show articles’ links back to customer’s preferred discovery platform.
- Funding bodies for organisations: Extending funding data in Inspec Analytics Plus to show funding bodies for organisations’ output on specific subjects.
Further developments under investigation for 2024 and beyond*:
- Static and dynamic alerts: Enabling users to automatically receive pdf reports of their saved searches, and to also receive dynamic reports when their selected data has changed
- Concept page summaries: Adding text descriptions of all Controlled Terms and Subject Classifications to concept pages.
- Citation and reference maps: Using Inspec citation data to show institutional citation networks.
*Subject to customer feedback.