Citation
Todd, S. (2001), "Structural Survey and the Internet", Structural Survey, Vol. 19 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2001.11019aag.001
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2001, MCB UP Limited
Structural Survey and the Internet
The Web site information in this volume includes some 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
BRE(www.bre.co.uk)
The BRE's main menu now includes:
- 1.
Our services – includes further details on research, consultancy and information services.
- 2.
Search BRE.
- 3.
Latest BRE news includes:
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New or revised digests
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– Digest 448 – Cleaning buildings: legislation and good practice.– Digest 451 – Tension tests for concrete.– Digest 452 – Whole life costing and life cycle assessment for sustainable building design.– Digest 453 – Insulating glazing units
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Other information:
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– Results from TF2000 fire tests.– Deconstruction project.– Report on climate change for insurers.– Report on Health and Safety risks in buildings.
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- 4.
About BRE – gives information on "Who we are", "What we do".
- 5.
BRE bookshop – described as the UK's most comprehensive, dedicated on-line bookshop for the construction industry.
- 6.
Insight – BRE's subscription e-news service. It is possible to sign up for a 30-day free trial.
- 7.
AskBRE – help desk teams include:
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Construction – construction solutions, concept and design, construction in service and end of life.
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Environment – built environment, building services, acoustics, air quality, sustainable construction.
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Energy – energy, housing, communications, training and education.
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FRS – fire, security and risk sciences.
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Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and The Building Cost Information Service BCIS(www.rics.org)(www.bcis.co.uk)
The "latest" section of this site now includes information on:
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FT highlights chartered surveying careers.
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Review of the residential leasehold system.
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Library Direct at ricsonline.
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RICS Awards 2000 – winners.
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Housing Green Paper – a decent home for all.
Access to BCIS is also available from this site. The BCIS has developed a database containing details of over 13,000 projects. The following checklist is based on the RICS guidance on cost planning and on BCIS studies of the factors which affect pricing levels:
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location;
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use and accommodation requirements;
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size – both floor area and functional units
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occupation target date;
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level of specification;
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views on design;
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number of storeys;
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any special storey height requirements;
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any special engineering or service; requirements;
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size of site;
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access to site;
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any likely planning constraints;
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likehood of problems with ground conditions;
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what's on site at the moment;
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any problem with public utilities, either connection or existing services.
BCIS provide cost/functional unit information as well as average group elemental cost and average element costs, all adjusted for time and location to give a £/m2 estimate.
The Environment Agency(www.environment-agency.gov.uk)
There is a wealth of environmental information on this Web site, including:
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What's in your backyard? enables you to find environmental information in your locality including pollution inventory, general quality assessment (chemistry) and 1999 bathing waters results.
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National floodline information.
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Spotlight on business environmental performance 1999.
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Groundwater and contaminated land.
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Waste minimisation
Homecheck(www.homecheck.co.uk)
Sitescope Limited, a UK provider of property and environmental risk information to lawyers, banks, surveyors, insurance companies, engineers and other property professionals, provides the Homecheck service. Homecheck collates information about environmental hazards, such as air pollution, subsidence and proximity of landfill sites. The various hazards are listed on a scale of one (low) to seven (high). Where the risks are presented as high, the rating given may simply be warning that within the given postcode there is a risk. It is also possible to extend the service to include a more in-depth site specific report.
Construction Resources(www.rics.org)
The aim of this site is to increase ecological awareness and to provide a list of professionals who are committed to sustainable building practices that homeowners can access. This project has been funded by Southwark Building Control and Southwark Regeneration.
Surveyors Plus(www.surveyorsplus.co.uk)
Surveyors Plus, a new portal for the building industry, which focuses on surveyors' needs.
The estimating section is in association with Gardiner and Theobald, who have provided estimating data for a variety of construction sectors updated regularly. There are also information papers on a variety of subjects including capital allowances and VAT.
The European Liquid Roofing Association(www.elra.org.uk)
This site is dedicated to explaining the benefits to be gained from using liquid waterproofing systems.
The Construction Research and Innovation Strategy Panel (CRISP)(www.crisp-uk.org.uk)
CRISP has recently launched "Construction Research Priorities 2000". The purpose of CRISP is "to identify and communicate research and innovation priorities to funders and others". The three broad drives for improvement are:
- 1.
Customer needs.
- 2.
Respect for people.
- 3.
Sustainable construction.
CRISP has selected six industry-related topics and three related topics for particular attention.
- 1.
Design as the integrator between customer needs and completed works.
- 2.
Technologies and components – the materials, products and systems which make up buildings and works.
- 3.
Management of the development process.
- 4.
Performance of buildings and works.
- 5.
IT.
- 6.
Housing.
The three related priorities are:
- 1.
Motivation and communication.
- 2.
The regulatory framework.
- 3.
The fiscal and financial framework.
Co Construct(www.construction.co.uk)
This site is the result of the association of five research organisations:
- 1.
The Construction Industry Research Information Association (CIRIA).
- 2.
The Association for Building Services Research (BISRIA).
- 3.
The Steel Construction Institute (SCI).
- 4.
The Concrete Society.
- 5.
The Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA).
The main aim of the association is to provide easy access to current reliable information for construction. The site covers procurement, design, construction, maintenance, civil and structural engineering, building and the built environment. The site also includes a diary of events, information on publications and research projects and courses. The site development has been partially funded by the DETR.
CBPP Benchmarking(www.cbpp.org.uk)(www.kpizone.com)
This site, introduced by the Construction Best Practice Programme, provides a single point of access to all construction benchmarking information key performance indicators currently available.
The National Register of Access Consultants(www.nrac.org.uk)
This resource seeks to advise building owners and managers on building improvements in accordance with The Disability Discrimination Act 1994.
Technical Indexes(www.techindex.co.uk)
Technical Indexes and British Standards Publishing Sales Limited have acquired Building Online Information Service. The service includes on-line document collections, including complete access to relevant British Standards.
Trent Concrete(www.trentconcrete.co.uk)
This site aims to provide a "valuable online resource for construction industry professionals". The site includes detailed product definitions and applications, case studies illustrating how the products are used in practice, in-depth technical information and advice, procurement and sustainability, samples and drawings online.
Energy Saving Trust(www.est.co.uk)
The Energy Saving Trust was established as part of the UK Government's response to the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The site has been designed to meet the needs of various audiences and includes a menu of:
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in your home;
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about us;
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local authority;
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small business;
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the partnership;
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working with us.
National Land Information Service (NLIS)(www.nlis.org.uk)
This Web site aims to allow people quicker and easier access to "authorative, accurate and comprehensive information on all land and property in the UK". The NLIS services will be accessed by registered users and further details will be provided as they are developed.
Construction Intelligence(www.constructionintelligence.com)
This Web site is an "online product sourcing tool". It aims to give:
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a growing database of companies and their products;
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detailed performance attributes and purchasing decisions;
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the ability to compare and contrast products according to their properties;
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the ability to order selected products online through an alliance with the Builder Centre.
3D Model Warehouse(www.3Dmodelwarehouse.com)
Cadac AIS, in association with Autodesk, has launched a Web site showing 3D models of specified products. Designers will also be able to register 3D models of all their products on the Web site.
Clearwater Technology(www.clearwater-tech.co.uk)
This revised Web site covers water treatment, air hygiene systems and swimming pool development.
The Building Centre(www.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.
The site also gives details of events – 2020 Visions. 2020 Visions is a series of events devised by the Building Centre Trust to look at environmental issues from a practical as well as polemical perspective. The first of this series will look at renewable energy in buildings and will feature lectures, debates and an exhibition of practical examples, ideas for the future and enabling technology which forms the basis of design possibilities. Future events are planned on water and wastage.
A renewable energy exhibition is also planned. The exhibition will look at the application of technology by demonstrating both products and case studies of these in use. It will ask what sort of impact renewable energy technology will have on buildings designed and constructed in the next 20 years.
Are there technologies now which, given the appropriate subsidy or not, could be incorporated into building designs to the benefit of the client, user and, of course, the environment? Should designers be anticipating future technologies on behalf of building owners? The technologies featured include:
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photovoltaics;
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wind power;
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biomass;
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solar thermal;
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ground source heat pumps; and
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small hydro.