Citation
Todd, S. (2005), "Internet reviews", Structural Survey, Vol. 23 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2005.11023aag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2005, Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Internet reviews
The web site information included below includes two key and other informative sites. If there are any other interesting sites or sources of information that you have found useful, please e-mail me at: s.todd@salford.ac.uk
The Building Research Establishmentwww.bre.co.uk
The latest news section from the BRE includes the following.
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EcoHomes. EcoHomes assesses buildings against a range of environmental issues with credits awarded for good environmental performance – the more credits achieved, the better the final rating. Its success lies in the fact that it provides the marketplace with a balanced approach to sustainable development, looking at both the design and operation.
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The EcoHomes update includes a new credit rewarding the use of zero-emission energy sources as part of its 2005 update. The credit encourages the use of locally generated renewable energy sources, such as solar photovoltaics and wind turbines, to supply at least 10 per cent of a development's heating and electricity. This will not only lead to reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants, but will also help to conserve fossil fuels and develop a market for renewable technologies.
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“EcoHomes does not demand the 'perfect' solution”, says Cecilia Bagenholm of BRE, 'but promotes a process of continuing environmental improvement, encouraging use of the latest technologies, construction methods, and best practice design principles'. The scheme strives to achieve this in a cost-effective and practical way, ensuring market appeal and giving individual buildings recognition where they perform well”.
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Industry supports MMC showcase. Leading modern methods of construction (MMC) exponents, including The Concrete Centre, MTech, Ruukki, Terrapin and Van Elle, have announced their sponsorship of the MMC showcase, OFFSITE2005.
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Relationships in the construction industry. Key construction project relationships – such as those with the client, the supply chain and within the project team – will be examined at a seminar at BRE on 15 February 2005.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyorswww.rics.org.uk
The RICS web site has recently been restructured. The main menu includes the following:
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about RICS;
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built environment;
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property;
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environment;
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management;
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training; and
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RICS services.
The “Latest News” section gives information on:
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Geomatics World. Every member of the geomatics faculty receives Geomatics World, the highly respected journal of RICS Geomatics.
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Home buying reform roadshows gives information of these events in various locations.
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Awards:
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building conservation;
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building of the year;
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regeneration;
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North-East renaissance;
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property management;
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Pro Yorkshire;
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community benefit; and
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sustainability.
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- 4.
Faculties:
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arts and antiques;
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building surveying;
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commercial property;
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construction;
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dispute resolution;
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environment;
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facilities management;
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geomatics;
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machinery and business assets;
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management consultancy;
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minerals and waste management;
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planning and development;
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project management;
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residential property;
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rural; and
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valuation.
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Forums:
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building conservation;
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building control;
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corporate real estate group;
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property auctioneering group;
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property valuation;
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regeneration; and
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telecoms.
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Built environment:
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building services – engineering;
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building types – education and science, historic, public and commercial, tall;
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construction management, CDM, contract administration, planning;
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construction surveyors;
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contract forms, collateral warranties, standard;
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costs, daywork rates;
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design, acoustics, architecture;
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elements, complete, complete services;
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engineering, civil;
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inspection, building surveyors, stock condition surveying;
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maintenance and refurbishment, adaptation, conservation, costs, restoration;
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market;
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materials, cementitious, concrete and mineral bound, metal, non cementitious, timber;
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pathology, damp and water ingress, subsidence;
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procurement and tendering, partnering;
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quantity surveying, SMM7, Surveyors, tender analysis;
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standards, building control surveyors, building regulations, fire regulations
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sustainable construction; and
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trades.
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Environment:
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agribusiness, agriculture, biotechnology;
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energy, renewable, use;
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environmental management, assessment, conservation;
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environmental surveyors;
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forestry and woodland management, forestry;
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geomatics, engineering surveying, hydrographic surveying, information science, land surveying, mapping and positioning, photogrammetry and remote sensing;
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minerals, mineral surveying, planning, taxation;
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planning and development, compulsory purchase, control, guidance, reform, strategic, surveyors;
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sustainability, development;
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waste management, hazardous, recycling, sewerage, taxation; and
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water resource management, drainage, flooding.
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Management:
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business management, change, communication, continuity, costs, CRM, discrimination, ethics, fees, finance, human resources, information, insurance, planning, practice, procurement;
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corporate recovery, fixed charge;
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disputes, avoidance, resolution;
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facilities management, facilities managers, procurement, relocation, space planning;
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health and safety, fire, risk, public, personal, hazardous substances;
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management consultancy;
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project management, contract administration, project managers;
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quality management, assurance, measurement; and
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strategic management.
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- 9.
RICS services:
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BCIS;
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books;
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branding;
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dispute resolution;
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events;
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find a surveyor, business rates helpline, compulsory purchase helpline, Find an expert witness;
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journals and magazines, RICS business; and
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library.
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Office of the Deputy Prime Ministerwww.odpm.gov.uk
The “Latest” section includes information on the following:
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Community groups get millions to create living spaces in their neighbourhoods. More than £3.8 million is being awarded to community groups to help create cleaner, safer, greener neighbourhoods, through the Government's Living Spaces programme.
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New rules to reduce faulty home electrical installations come into force. Householders can help protect their homes and families from unsafe electrics by following the advice outlined in a consumer leaflet published by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.
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Prescott announces next steps in planning reform. The Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott has renewed a Government pledge to deliver more money and more help for local councils to build a planning system to be proud of.
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One hundred and fifty million more for reducing homelessness. The Deputy Prime Minister has announced a £150 million funding package for new action to prevent and reduce homelessness. In the following article, the Deputy Prime Minister discusses the Government's ongoing campaign to tackle the problem of homelessness.
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Council Tax – The Facts. Council tax has been in the news recently. Read about the facts.
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Housing Act 2004 signals long-awaited reform of the private sector. The Housing Bill, which received Royal Assent on 19 November, signals a major shake-up of the housing private sector with vulnerable tenants being better protected, home buying and selling overhauled and estate agents regulated.
Sea Level Rise Linkswww.nap.usace.army.mil/cenap-en/slr_links.htm
This web site gives information on the following.
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Global Sea Level Change: Determination and Interpretation.
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The Probability of Sea Level Rise.
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The Cost of Holding Back the Sea.
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Greenhouse Effect and Sea Level Rise: America Starts to Prepare.
Soil Erosion Networkwww.soilerosion.net/
The Soil Erosion web site brings together the information on soil erosion from a wide range of scientific disciplines. It aims to be the definitive internet source for those wishing to find out more about soil erosion. The web site main menu includes the following:
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background;
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photos/videos;
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organisations;
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projects;
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meetings;
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SE-LIST;
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data;
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models; and
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other links.
Association for environment conscious building (AECB)www.aecb.net/
The main aim of the AECB is to promote sustainable building. This web site gives information and photographs of award winning projects and is structured as follows:
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Home;
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About – History, Contact, Steering Group;
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News – latest, Archive;
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Environment – Climate change;
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Members Work – Award winning projects;
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Campaigning;
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Training;
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Events;
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Books;
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Forum; and
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(Members).
Forest Stewardship Councilwww.fsc.org/
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not for profit, non-government organisation based in Bonn, Germany, that provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organisations interested in responsible forestry. Founded in 1993, FSC's mission is to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. FSC forest management standards are based on FSC's ten Principles and Criteria of responsible forest management.
Since 1993 FSC has distinguished itself through its:
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independence and credibility;
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recognition as the global standard;
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participation by all stakeholders;
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extensive chain of custody participants;
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relationships with major retailers/wholesalers; and
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third party certification.
Over the past 10 years, 42 million hectares in more than 60 countries have been certified according to FSC standards while several thousand products are produced using FSC certified wood and carrying the FSC trademark. FSC operates through its network of National Initiatives in more than 30 countries.
WRAPwww.wrap.org.uk
Wrap's mission is to accelerate resource efficiency by creating efficient markets for re-cycled products, while removing barriers to waste minimisation, reuse and recycling.
This web site gives details of a WRAP/BRE funded project to investigate and target markets for post-consumer window waste. An output of this project will be a Good Practice Toolkit for the successful recovery and recycling of window waste.
ELECSAwww.elecsa.org.uk
ELECSA is a joint venture between FENSA and the BBA to deliver an independent certification scheme for tradesmen who undertake domestic electrical work. The site details the ELECSA scheme which operates the Competent Persons Scheme under Approved Document P for electrical installations. Its mission is to help electricians comply with the Building Regulations to serve householder's needs.
Stephen Todd