Citation
Todd, S. (1998), "Structural Survey and the Internet", Structural Survey, Vol. 16 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.1998.11016bag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 1998, MCB UP Limited
Structural Survey and the Internet
Stephen Todd
The Web site information included below only includes sites where there has been a significant change since the last journal issue and other new interesting sources of information.
If there are any other interesting sites that you have found useful, please e-mail me at S.Todd@env-man.salford.ac.uk
Updates on previous sites
The Building Research Establishment( http://www.bre.co.uk )
This site includes information on:
- •
Environment;
- •
Construction;
- •
Best Practice Programmes;
- •
Fire;
- •
IT/Innovation;
- •
Concrete Building Project.
The Concrete Building Project includes photographs of the seven storey concrete frame at the BRE's Carrington Laboratory. The building is under construction and is monitored by a Web camera every 30 minutes between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. This is part of the European Building Project involving the production and testing of full sized buildings (including in situ, precast, hybrid and innovative forms of construction). It will enable comparative assessments to be made.
Facilities Management Association( http://www.fmd.co.uk )
The aim of this site is to promote the UK facilities management industry on the Internet. The information is now split into four main headings of:
- •
FM Directory includes Company Index, Software, Health & Safety, Security;
- •
News & Press including Books & Publications;
- •
Career & Jobs;
- •
Information includes Exhibitions & Forums.
Other sites
Environmental Building News( http://www.ebuild.com/index.html )
This site describes its newsletter on Environmentally Responsive Design and Construction. Included are articles, reviews and news items on energy-efficient, resource efficient and healthy building practices, together with sustainability. The newsletter addresses material selection, siting indoor air quality, daylighting etc. The current searchable items from the homepage includes:
- •
Current issues;
- •
Product reviews;
- •
Back issues;
- •
Features;
- •
Other stories;
- •
Building checklist;
- •
Links to past issues.
The Green Building Resources section includes the Environmental Building News Bibliography, Green Building Discussion, Calendar of Events, and Green Links. The site is US in scope and has many useful resources.
Facilities Management UK( http://www.healthandsafety.co.uk/facman.htm )
This site is part of the Health and Safety pages which was set up to assist company directors and safety managers with an information source. The FM section is described as the "essential publication for facilities managers and other facilities professionals". Regular features include e.g. security, energy and lighting, general news and health and safety.
Current articles include:
- •
Corporate Fitness-Benefits or Buzzwords;
- •
Sick Building Syndrome;
- •
Roof Protection System.
Multi Media Mapping( http://www.multimap.com/uk /)
This site is described as a complete interactive atlas of Great Britain on the Web. Searchable entry can be made by including a British City, town or village to get a detailed map at scales of 1:50,000, 1:100,000 and 1:200,000. Local weather and national forecast information is also available. When the maps are displayed other links to places of interest are also shown.
Another similar site is the UK Streetmap Page which provides address searching and streetmaps for the UK. Currently there are streetmaps for Greater London and road atlas maps for the whole of mainland Britain. This can be found at http://www.streetmap.co.uk
Housing Today( http://www.housingtoday.org.uk/index.html )
This is the site of the magazine aimed at social housing providers. It includes the latest news, an area to exchange information or post questions and links to another housing magazine entitled "Agenda". "Agenda" is a journal of analysis and commentary published monthly by the National Housing Federation.
BRIX The Builders Resource and Information Exchange( http://www.fmb.org.uk /)
This site is described as the premier site for UK builders and their customers. The BRIX site is part of a larger project to encourage the use of communication technologies by small to medium sized building firms.
The site includes:
- •
Information for Builders;
- •
The Federation of Master Builders;
- •
Warranted Builders;
- •
How to Choose a Builder;
- •
How to become an FMB member;
- •
Directory of FMB members' sites;
- •
On-line bookshop;
The site is aimed at consumers but is also of use to the professional and the on line bookshop and publications includes some useful sources of information.
The CIOB( http://www.ciob.org.uk /)
This site gives details about the Chartered Institute of Building and includes news items with links to other Web sites including URL-Minder Registration which monitors registered pages and sends an e-mail when they change.
The site is split into four main areas:
- •
Visitors includes a section on looking for a contractor;
- •
Professionals includes CDM, on-line site and weather information;
- •
Adults Keep Out includes links to Legoland and the Severn Bridge;
- •
Students includes qualifications, membership and an information resources section.
Department of the Environment Transport and the Regions Construction Directorate( http://www.construction.detr.gov.uk )
This site aims to give an information service to the industry and keep this up to date with the department's initiatives. The site includes the work of Construction Directorate and currently includes information:
- •
About the Directorate Aims/objectives;
- •
Combating Cowboy Builders: A consultation paper;
- •
Construction innovation and research management division;
- •
Construction monitor Monthly on-line industry news pages;
- •
Procurement and Prequalifications Systems Division (PPSD) Construction Line.