Introduction

The Regional Information System RIS (Regionalkundliches Informationssystem) is an initiative of the Regionalverband Ruhr/RVR. The large version comprises more than 1000 screen pages and is available under www.ruhrgebiet-regionalkunde.de. The information system is a history book covering the development up to 2005/2010. It addresses persons that want to be informed about the historical and physical foundations and the structural changes of the Ruhr since the 1970s. Particularly addressed are students, pupils and their teachers and interested persons from outside the sciences.

That is why no particular previous knowledge is required; terms and concepts that are not common knowledge are defined and explained in a glossary. Facts and processes are illustrated by figures, graphs and tables. Generalisations, modeling and critical approaches are important components when discussing the topics. Links (that may outdate quickly), written and other sources complete the information system.

The abstracts presented here are less focused on facts and figures, but on contexts and processes, they should be read as an outline of the Ruhr and its structural change to the present.

The copyright lies with the Regionalverband Ruhr and the authors. RIS has to be cited as:
Butzin, B.; Pahs, R.: Prey, G. (2009): Regionalkundliches Informationssystem des RVR zum Ruhrgebiet. www.ruhrgebiet-regionalkunde.de.

The information system comprises six main chapters which are divided in a total of 28 detailed topics (summed up in 21 topics here). Each of them presents a self-contained article. Topics of special importance are opened up by in-depth acrticles.

The six main chapters are:
1. Fundamentals and beginnings
2. The era of the coal and steel industry
3. Renewing the infrastructure
4. Renewing urban areas
5. Renewing the economy
6. Perspectives for the future

A shorter and updated version titled RIS-COMPACT has been edited in 2014 and is available under www.ris-compact.metropoleruhr.de. RIS COMPACT is less focused on data and figures, but on contexts and processes; this survey should be read as an outline of The Ruhr and the Metropolis Ruhr resp., its structural change so far and the perspectives of the region in the future. Additionally it has been enlarged by references published in English since 2000.

Cooperation/contact:
Burkhard Wetterau
Regionalverband Ruhr (RVR)
Landeskundliche Grundlagen
Kronprinzenstr. 35
45128 ESSEN
GERMANY
Fon: 0049 (0)201 2069-480
Fax: 0049 (0)201 2069-500
info[at]rvr-online.de
www.metropoleruhr.de