DTIC Search Tools
Corporate Source - DTIC maintains a Corporate Source Authority System (CSAS) which lists all organizations that have contributed information to the Technical Reports, Research Summaries, or Independent Research and Development databases. Each organization is assigned a 6-digit Source Code used to search these databases for information authored or sponsored by the organization. Each Corporate Author record displays the root (highest) element of the organization, the parent (next higher) element of the organization, any sub-organizations or former names, and the organization's Source Code. From the Corporate Source results page, users can insert Source Codes into Guided Search queries.
DTIC Thesaurus - The thesaurus provides a broad multidisciplinary subject term vocabulary that reduces the need to search multiple synonyms. Subject terms, called Descriptors, are organized into hierarchies, where narrower terms are linked to broader terms. After performing a Thesaurus search, a user can insert a Descriptor directly into the Guided Search queries for Technical Reports, Research Summaries, and Independent Research & Development databases.
Handle Service - DTIC's Handle Service assigns persistent identifiers called "handles" to electronic resources and stores them in its Handle Service. The current location (or URL) where the resource can be found is stored with each handle. When the location changes (i.e., the URL), the handle record is updated to reflect this change, and there is no broken link. DTIC's Handle Service preserves long-term access to electronic resources. For more information, read the Handle FAQs.
Special Collections - Special Collections searches are pre-packaged queries of DTIC's technical reports collection. Some searches are based on timely defense-related topics, such as biometrics and disruptive technologies. Other searches are organization-based, such as the Military Operations Research Society. Several are based on past DTIC Review® collections. Users can modify Special Collections searches by adding additional search terms or limiting the date range or number of results desired.
Subject Category Guide - DTIC has identified 25 broad subject fields and 251 groups to categorize the areas of scientific and technical interest. These Fields and Groups provide the structure for subject grouping of documents in DTIC's Technical Reports, Research Summaries, and Independent Research & Development collections. Fields and groups numerical codes may be used to locate relevant results in those databases.
Technical Reports DVD - DTIC registered users who are authorized for access to export-controlled information may purchase the Technical Reports (TR) Database on DVD. The TR DVD offers around the clock availability and some search and display capabilities not available in the Technical Reports online search.
