Expansion of research and specialization in the field of Iranian architecture and urbanism requires its basic information. The large multitude of the works in this field demands the application of special compilation and information retrieval systems, as normal methodologies do not fully satisfy the needs.

Therefore, a colossal work in the field of Iranian architecture and urban history requires looking from an all-encompassing, comprehensive, nationally-oriented viewpoint that would consider the diversity of the works, the variety of natural/climatic/cultural properties of Iran, as well as the impact of this variety on architecture and architecture's historical continuity all in a systematized manner. This task inevitably calls for the utilization of information technology. This approach will provide a large database covering Iranian architectural history from the seventh millennium B.C. up to the present, arranging extant information while also organizing the production of new scholarship. It will also affect both national and international research regarding architecture of Iran, helping to keep record of contemporary architectural data as well.

The Iranian architectural and urban history database is conceived on this plot, bearing the title: Encyclopaedia of Iranian Architectural History. The product of this project will be a comprehensive database that would be accessible to users via the World Wide Web.

Research, design, implementation and maintenance of this system are the responsibility of the Iranian Academy of Art, its commissioner the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. Also sponsoring/contributing to this project are institutions such as the Cultural Heritage, Handy Craft and Tourism Organization.

The strategic academic board of the project includes Seyyed Mohammad Beheshti (head director), Bahman Namvar Motlagh (Academy of the Arts secretary and representative), Amir-Farjami and Hamid-reza Sepehri (Ministry of Housing and Urban Development representatives), Fariborz Dowlat-abadi and Ahmad Khosh-nevis (Cultural Heritage, Handy Craft and Tourism representatives), Kambiz Haji Ghassemi, Mehrdad Qayoomi Bidhendi (national experts). The bureau has four vice-chancelleries of Research, Information Technology, International Affairs, and Support.

Also a member of the academic board, the late Dr. Baqer Ayatollah-zadeh Shirazi contributed to this work with his invaluable insight while he was still among us.