Electrical Engineering (journal)

Electrical Engineering (journal). This academic periodical is a prominent scientific journal in the field of electrical engineering, tracing its origins to the late 19th century. It publishes original research, review articles, and technical notes covering a broad spectrum of topics within the discipline. The journal is published by Springer and serves as a key forum for the dissemination of advanced engineering knowledge.

History and background

The journal's lineage begins with the Transactions of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers, first published in 1884 following the founding of the AIEE in the same year. This organization, a precursor to the modern IEEE, was established by pioneering figures like Thomas Edison and Elihu Thomson. For decades, the Transactions documented seminal advancements, including work by Nikola Tesla on alternating current systems and developments from the Bell Telephone Laboratories. In 1963, following the merger of the AIEE and the IRE to form the IEEE, the publication was succeeded by various IEEE Transactions titles. The modern iteration of Electrical Engineering was later re-established under its current title by Springer, continuing the legacy of its historic predecessor as an independent archival journal.

Scope and publication details

The journal encompasses the core and emerging sub-disciplines of electrical engineering. Its scope includes, but is not limited to, circuit theory, signal processing, power engineering, control theory, and electronics. It also features research in intersecting fields such as telecommunications, computer engineering, and renewable energy systems. Published by Springer, the journal releases articles both in print and electronically through platforms like SpringerLink. It operates under a hybrid publishing model, offering options for open access under agreements such as Springer Compact. The editorial process involves rigorous peer review managed by an international board of experts.

Abstracting and indexing

To ensure wide dissemination and discoverability of its content, the journal is abstracted and indexed in numerous major scientific databases. These services include the Science Citation Index Expanded, part of the Web of Science core collection, and the Scopus database maintained by Elsevier. It is also covered by Inspec, the engineering database produced by the IET, and Compendex. Additional indexing occurs in services like Google Scholar, Academic Search, and CNKI. This comprehensive coverage in key indexing services facilitates citation tracking and impact measurement through metrics like the Journal Impact Factor and CiteScore.

Editorial board and governance

The journal is guided by an editor-in-chief and an editorial board comprising distinguished academics and researchers from leading global institutions. These editors are typically affiliated with universities such as the MIT, Stanford University, and the University of California, Berkeley, as well as major research laboratories like the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The board's responsibilities include overseeing the peer-review process, setting editorial policy, and ensuring the journal's alignment with the evolving frontiers of fields like microelectronics, photonics, and smart grid technology. Governance and publishing operations are managed by the staff at Springer Nature.

Impact and reception

Within the electrical engineering community, the journal is recognized as a reputable venue for high-quality research. Its historical legacy, dating to the Transactions of the AIEE, lends it considerable prestige and a long citation half-life. While its impact factor varies annually, it is consistently ranked within relevant categories of the Journal Citation Reports. The journal is considered a solid, archival publication, often compared to specialized titles like IEEE Transactions on Power Systems or IET Electric Power Applications. Its reception is bolstered by the global reach of its publisher, Springer, and its inclusion in the digital collections of major university libraries and consortia worldwide.