What if I told you this unassuming building is a treasure trove of construction knowledge? This is the Fraunhofer-Informationszentrum Raum und Bau IRB. It is located right here in Stuttgart. The Fraunhofer IRB plays a vital role in Germany’s construction and planning sectors.
Established in 1941 as the Bautechnische Auskunftsstelle, its mission was clear. It had to provide crucial information for the construction industry. Otto Graf, from the Institut für Materialprüfung des Bauwesens, was the initiator. In 1960, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft took over. It was renamed Dokumentationsstelle für Bautechnik.
In 1977, its scope expanded. It embraced Raumordnung, Städtebau, and Wohnungswesen. This broadened focus aimed to centralize knowledge transfer for all planning and construction areas. The German government’s program supported this. It ran from 1974 to 1977. It consolidated scattered documentation efforts across all knowledge domains. The Fraunhofer IRB was formed. It merged documentation centers from Cologne and Stuttgart.
The Fraunhofer IRB created the first bibliographic database called RSWB. Since 1980, its databases were available online. This was through the Fachinformationszentrum Energie, Physik, Mathematik. Now it is called Fachinformationszentrum Karlsruhe.
In 1982, the Fraunhofer IRB Verlag was founded. Its purpose was better media access for target groups. It offered Fachbücher and research reports. The internet portal www.baufachinformation.de launched in 2001. It combined diverse specialist information for planning and construction. It includes free and paid content.
The Fraunhofer IRB offers several databases. These include SCHADIS for construction damages. There is BZP for building approvals. RSWBplus offers German and English literature. ICONDA provides international databases.
The Fraunhofer IRB supports researchers. Its Fraunhofer-Publica database lists publications and patents. The Fraunhofer-Online-Team aids in publishing. Fraunhofer-ePrints provides electronic publications. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft supports open access. Publications appear as Fraunhofer-ePrints. This hybrid approach maximizes research visibility.
The Fraunhofer IRB collaborates with associations. These partnerships improve information access. It contributes to the Fraunhofer Building Innovation Alliance. It aids research transfer. The institute works closely with current research topics.
Currently, the Fraunhofer-Informationszentrum Raum und Bau IRB employs 110 people.
The Fachbibliothek Planen und Bauen holds specialized literature. It covers architecture and urban planning. It also includes civil engineering and monument preservation. Its collection spans 4000 shelf meters.
The Fraunhofer IRB remains a vital resource. It supports the construction and planning sectors. It ensures knowledge transfer and innovation in the field.