Citation
Todd, S. (2002), "Structural Survey and the Internet", Structural Survey, Vol. 20 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2002.11020bag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2002, MCB UP Limited
Structural Survey and the Internet
The Web site information in this volume includes key sites and other new resources. If there are any other sites that you find particularly useful, please e-mail me at S.Todd@salford.ac.uk
Key sites
The Building Research Establishmentwww.bre.co.uk
BRE currently employs around 600 people working in small Centres of Excellence which are designed to provide a logical customer focus of the services they offer. Many of the comprehensive range of laboratories and test facilities are UKAS accredited, and are available for clients wishing to make use of BRE's extensive testing services. BRE East Kilbride, the Scottish Laboratory focuses on the specific needs of Scottish and Northern Irish clients.
The programme of work at BRE Cardington is now complete and the services offered from there have been transferred to Garston. The current main menu is structured as:
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Our services;
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Search BRE;
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Latest from BRE;
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About BRE;
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BRE bookshop;
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Insight;
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Ask BRE.
There are other links to:
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BRE Projects site which gives details of specific projects at the BRE;
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Foundation for the Built Environment (BRE's owners' site);
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BRE Certification which includes LPCB and Wimlas Approvals.
The press release section gives information on an EC funded research project CabinAir to monitor in-flight air quality. Currently, analysis is being done on the air quality of 50 BA, SAS and KLM flights.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyorswww.rics.org
The site is currently accessed by a number of drop down menus:
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About us;
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Faculties;
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Forums;
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Regions;
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Career Zone;
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Resources;
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Help.
The news section gives information on:
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more chance of birth defects near landfill sites;
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a study that urges farmers to become eco-guardians;
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one stop remediation consent.
The library's online catalogue has been upgraded and now includes information on all the books, videos, audio tapes and case law articles currently held. It has improved:
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search tools for video and audio tapes;
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search tools for Web sites;
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updated reading lists from the Faculties.
Constructionlinewww.constructionline.co.uk/
Constructionline was developed by the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions and is the UK's largest register of qualified construction contractors and consultants. It is designed to streamline procurement procedures and increase quality in construction services, thereby saving clients and those who work in the industry many millions of pounds.
There are over 8,000 contractors and consultants on the Constructionline register and all are qualified to criteria set and audited by DETR. They cover the full spectrum of construction activities from architecture to demolition and range in size from small specialists to the largest main contractors. A research project to examine the use of Constructionline is currently under way at the University of Salford.
The Building Centrewww.buildingcentre.co.uk
This site is described as "the world's largest permanent exhibition and single source of information covering all aspects of architecture and design, construction and planning, home improvement, DIY and self build". The site includes:
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Bookshop;
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What's on display;
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Information services;
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Market research;
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Export action centre;
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Building centre trust.
Building Information Capitalwww.biw.co.uk
BIW aims to meet the information needs of the UK construction industry and its clients, by delivering a one-stop combination of free and subscription based services designed to make us all work better, faster, smarter. Their information services include a searchable directory of building products, manufacturers, suppliers, contractors and other industry professionals. The Web site is also constantly updated, offering a range of free industry news and other information. After registering you can customise your own BIW homepage so that it features exactly the content you want. The forums provide an area for users to discuss issues, ask for help or offer advice.
GDL Technologywww.gdltechnology.com
The Geometric Description Language (GDL) is the foundation for intelligent building objects for use with CAD systems. GDL Technology is a technology and service provider for component manufacturers in the building industry. GDL objects is based on a scripting language that makes it possible to describe real building components with a lifecycle management approach. GDL Technology's development centre and headquarters is based in Budapest, Hungary, with branch offices in the UK, Germany and the USA.
More than 100 manufacturers in the building industry are already publishing iCatalogs with more than 20,000 GDL objects describing 300,000 real life-building components.
The main advantages of the new version of the GDL Object Web Plug-in are:
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Direct drag and drop of GDL Objects into GDL Object Adapter for AutoCAD.
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Multiple CAD connectivity, on-line saving is now possible in well-known formats like DXF, DWG, IFC 1.51/2.0, 3DS, DGN and OBJ.
The benefits of using GDL objects for on-line purposes are that the file size is generally 50-100 times smaller than DWG/DXF even with a static one-product representation. The new GDL Object Web Plug-in will still only download GDL over the Web and then make the conversion to heavy static formats like DWG on the fly, locally on the client's machine. The parametric nature solves building component products with many variations; one single GDL object can represent hundreds of products. The objects can be used directly in CAD and design softwares either through native GDL support (ArchiCAD™, ArchiFM™, GDL SalesCAD™), Adapting technology (GDL Object Adapter with AutoCAD™) or through built-in export filters to static formats like DWG, DXF, IFC 1.51/2.0, 3DS and many more now directly from the GDL Object Web plug-in.
The new GDL Object Web Plug-in can be downloaded from the Web site and is free. The on-line catalogue industry will have a tremendous benefit from the new functionality to deliver product content to the whole CAD industry.
Objects Onlinewww.objectsonline.com
Objects Online offers an online collection of parametric 3D objects for CAD users. Currently there are more than 4,000 objects available (and 10,000 more for Object Club members). The site also includes parametric 2D symbols. GDL objects (Geometric Description Language) for ArchiCAD™, AutoCAD™ and VectorWorks™ are available.
FM Facultywww.occupier.org
This Web site has been launched by a consortium of organisations who aim "to generate and place in the public domain knowledge of the impact of buildings and workplaces on occupiers' business performance".
The site includes a review and evaluation of previous literature and is presented in a searchable database. The site is also intended to serve as a link to others presenting related evidence-based research and will be updated at least quarterly.
Thermal Economics Ltdwww.thermal-economics.co.uk/
This site provides a good source of building insulation information. The Thermal Economics product range includes high performance wall systems and "Thermafoam".
Sheffield Insulationswww.sheffins.co.uk/
Sheffield Insulations is part of the SIG plc group and supplies materials to the thermal insulation, dry lining, fire protection, house building, industrial and heating and ventilating markets. They have information on the majority of leading insulation (approximately 50,000 brand names).
Glass and Glazing Federationwww.ggf.org.uk/
The Glass and Glazing Federation (GGF) is a trade association for all those who make, supply or fit flat glass, such as windows, film or plastics. This site supplies information about the Federation and glass and glazing to the general public and professionals. The main menu includes:
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Learn about glass – information about glass and glazing; technical information; book lists; school site and links to other glass related sites.
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About the GGF.
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Latest news.
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Search.
The British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Associationwww.bwpda.co.uk
The British Wood Preserving and Damp-proofing Association is the largest association of its kind in Europe. Members include manufacturers and distributors of preservatives and damp control products, flame-retardants and timber treatment plants; producers and users of treated timber and specialists in remedial timber treatment and damp proofing; universities, colleges, learned societies and research organisations in theUK and worldwide; independent consultants and private members. The main menus include:
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information;
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finding a member;
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training and examinations;
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publications;
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events.
Building Services Research and Innovation (BSRIA)www.bsria.co.uk/
BSRIA offers independent and authoritative research, product testing, consultancy, management and market intelligence in the field of Building Services Engineering.
BSRIA's information and library service provides a range of technical and business publications on building services technology. It is also possible to test new products and innovative systems in BSRIA's two well-equipped laboratories in Bracknell and Crowthorne.
The main menu of this site is structured as:
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services and products;
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bookshop;
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members;
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research programme;
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co-construct.
The Enhanced and Evaluated Virtual Library (EEVL)www.eevl.ac.uk
The Enhanced and Evaluated Virtual Library (EEVL) is an award-winning free service, which provides quick and reliable access to engineering, mathematics and computing information available on the Internet. It is created and run by a team of information specialists from a number of universities and institutions in the UK for students, staff and researchers in higher and further education, as well as anyone else working, studying or looking for information in engineering, mathematics andcomputing.
EEVL provides a central access point to networked engineering, mathematics and computing information. Resources being added to the catalogues are selected, catalogued, classified and subject-indexed by experts to ensure that only current, high-quality and useful resources are included. They include e-journals, databases, training materials, professional societies, university and college departments, research projects, bibliographic databases, software, information services and recruitment agencies. Some of the information is structures as (source EEVL Web site, March 2002):
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Construction and Building Engineering (general);
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Construction and Building Components and Products;
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Construction and Building Equipment;
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Construction and Building Management;
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Construction and Building Materials;
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Construction and Building Methods;
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Facilities and Services;
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Surveying.
The Brick Development Associationwww.brick.org.uk
The Brick Development Association represents the interests of UK and Irish manufacturers of clay bricks and pavers. It claims to be the voice of the industry with a membership which makes up over 96 per cent of the UK and Ireland's total brick making capacity. The main menu is structured as:
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Innovation in brick;
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Publications;
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Education and training;
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Codes and standards;
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Brick bulletin.
The Construction Industry Training Boardwww.citb.org.uk
The CITB brings together supports National Traineeships and Modern Apprenticeships. The Web site gives information on:
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Career options;
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Learning resources;
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Qualifications;
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Training;
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Publications;
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News;
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Fact-file.
Guttermasterwww.guttermaster.co.uk
Guttermaster has recently re-designed its Web site. It allows the designer to select from an extensive range, check that it is of sufficient size and request a quotation.