Structural Survey and the Internet

Citation

Todd, S. (2002), "Structural Survey and the Internet", Structural Survey, Vol. 20 No. 1. https://doi.org/10.1108/ss.2002.11020aag.001

Structural Survey and the Internet

Structural Survey and the Internet

Stephen Todd

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 Establishment(www.bre.co.uk)

The BRE's Web site includes:

• •

  Our services (Acoustics; Aviation; BRE Consultancy and Innovation; BREEAM; BRE Cardington; BRE Scotland; BRESCU; Building Fabric; Coatings; Concrete Construction; Construction Codes and Standards; Construction IT; Eco Homes; Energy Technology; Environmental and Fire Dynamics; Environmental Engineering; Fire Risk Sciences; Ground Engineering; Health, Safety and Environment; Heritage; Housing; Materials Laboratory Service; Performance Improvement in construction; PFI Consultancy; Productive Workplace; Stone and Masonry; Structural Engineering; Sustainable Construction; Technical and Legal Services; Timber Technology and Construction; Waste and Recycling; Water; Whole Life Performance; Wind Environment).

• •

  Latest from BRE;

• •

  About BRE;

• •

  BRE bookshop;

• •

  Insight;

• •

  Ask BRE.

Related areas include:

• •

  BRE projects site for details of specific projects;

• •

  Foundation for the Built Environment – BRE owner's site;

• •

  BRE Certification – includes LPCB and Wimlas Approvals.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors(www.rics.org.uk)

The RICS Web site was relaunched in Autumn 2001. The main aim of the site is to be dynamic, up-to-date and intuitive. According to CSM, the redesign is in four phases:

Phase 1: Global Institution (complete):

• •

  analyse existing sites;

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  review site deliverables;

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  develop a scalable solution for the future;

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  design a new navigation structure;

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  plan the development of the new site and implement it.

Phase 2: Infrastructure (complete January 2002):

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  reviewing existing internal Web use/practice;

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  understanding future requirements;

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  designing back-end Web technology (modules);

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  commissioning development.

Phase 3: Feedback and partnerships:

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  review feedback of initial design and modules and act on it;

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  identify high-use areas of the site;

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  develop a priority work programme;

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  schedule development and implement it.

The new site will also include:

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  support to an interactive studentzone;

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  an "ask the expert/mentor" system;

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  lifelong learning (including online lectures and CPD recording);

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  a career zone and employer centre (for small to medium-sized practices).

Phase 4: "My RICS"

This will include:

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  a personalised page for users;

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  artificial intelligence;

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  an ongoing review of Web needs and potential opportunities (source: CSM 10.2001).

Other sites

Holz Box Tirol(www.holzbox.at)

A group of Austrian architects have designed a multi-purpose wooden cube that can accommodate up to four people. It is only 18m³ (approx 2.6m 2.6m 2.6m)but offers all the main facilities for modern living.

The design was originally intended for people who "want to get away from it all", and can easily be transported for use in the mountains or as a garden office etc.

Her Majesty's Stationery Office(www.hmso.gov.uk)

This Web site includes Acts of Parliament and Statutory Instruments. (1996 onwards as full text). The main menu of this site is structured as:

• •

  about HMSO;

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  licensing and copyright;

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  inforoute – the government's information resource;

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  legislation – full text of UK legislation;

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  public library subsidy – information and application forms;

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  regulation division;

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  search;

• •

  FAQs.

UK Parliament(www.parliament.uk)

This site includes information about the UK Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The opening screen includes:

• •

  House of Commons – business, publications, information about Members, committees;

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  House of Lords – business, publications, information about Peers, committees;

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  explore Parliament – for schools – guide to parliamentary system, visits, bookshop, archives, links;

• •

  enquiries.

National Statistics(www.statistics.gov.uk)

This Web site contains a wide range of official UK statistics. The themes include:

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  agriculture, fishing and forestry;

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  commerce, energy and industry;

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  compendia and reference;

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  crime and justice;

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  economy;

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  education and training;

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  health and care;

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  labour market;

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  natural and built environment;

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  population and migration;

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  social and welfare;

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  transport, travel and tourism.

Housing Today(www.housingtoday.org.uk)

This is the online version of the journal for the social housing sector. The site covers the latest news stories and includes a section on "this week's features".

Inside Housing(www.insidehousing.co.uk)

This site includes online news, views and jobs.

Joseph Rowntree Foundation(www.jrf.org.uk)

This independent body supports programmes of research and development in the fields of housing, social care and social policy. The Foundation carries out practical innovative projects in housing and care through the Joseph Rowntree Housing Trust. The site is structured as:

• •

  search;

• •

  bookshop;

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  housing and care;

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  project funding;

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  about us;

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  links;

• •

  contact.

The site also includes details about the "Smart Homes Project". The aim of this project is to encourage housing and equipment suppliers to provide the home technology that will support future lifestyles and aspirations, by demonstrating what it is realistically possible to achieve now.

British Government Panel on Sustainable Development(www.sd-commission.gov.uk)

This site gives details of the panel's work with respect to sustainable development issues.

Construction Materials Exchange(www.look4muck.com)

This site includes information about where and when bulk material is to be disposed of, so that others may reuse it.

Law Now(www.cmck.com)

This Web site is Cameron McKenna's free electronic information service. There are currently three services:

1. 1.

   Law-Now – developments under English law.

2. 2.

   Asia Law-Now – developments under Hong Kong and PRC law.

3. 3.

   Poland Law-Now – developments under Polish law.

Makers UK(www.makers.co.uk)

This site includes information on the company's knowledge of concrete repair, building refurbishment, civil engineering repair, roofing and cladding. It also gives advice on various repairs for concrete.

Flat Roofing Alliance (FRA)(www.fra.org.uk)

This site gives details of bituminous built-up roofing and aims to provide building owners with all the information they require to achieve "excellence in flat roofing".

National Cavity Insulation Association(www.ncia-ltd.org)

This Web site is structured into:

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  why insulate cavity walls? – using injected systems;

• •

  what is cavity insulation? – the process;

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  which material?;

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  suitability and how is cavity wall insulation applied?;

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  The Association – standards and guarantees, contacts;

• •

  finding a local installer.

Construct Sustainably(www.constructsustainably.co.uk)

This site gives sustainability guidance to small and medium-sized companies. It has been developed by the BRE, should be live in January 2002 and fully operational by April.

The British Fire Protection Systems Association (BFPSA)(www.bfpsa.org.uk)

This site structures its information into:

• •

  British International Standards;

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  publications;

• •

  products and services;

• •

  profile;

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  members area;

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  associated organisations;

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  news;

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  unwanted false alarms;

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  training.

Health and Safety Executive(www.hse.gov.uk/members)

This site includes a "workers Web page" that, covers the roles and responsibilities of employers and workers.

The Concrete Repair Association (CRA)(www.concreterepair.org.uk)

This Web site gives details of:

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  all CRA members;

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  information about the Association;

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  technical advisory services;

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  publications;

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  code of practice;

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  training.

Building Cost Information Services Ltd and Building Maintenance Information(www.bcis.co.uk)

This site provides accurate information on UK building costs, tender prices and building maintenance. Subscribers can access cost information for a wide range of commercial, industrial, residential and public sector buildings. BCIS has also produced an "XML scheme" for elemental analyses of building projects.

BCIS is a company of the RICS and was established in 1962. BCIS collates and analyses data submitted by members of the Services and incorporates material from other relevant sources.

Movement for Innovation, M4I(www.m4i.org.uk)

In July 1998 the Construction Task Force published their report "Rethinking Construction". The report identified ways of improving the project process by fostering innovative methodology. Within these changes the Construction Task Force believes that the industry can achieve annual improvements of:

• •

  10 per cent reduction in capital costs and construction time;

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  20 per cent reduction in defects and accidents;

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  10 per cent increase in productivity and profitability;

• •

  20 per cent increase of predictability of project performance.

The report proposed the creation of a "movement for change" that would be a dynamic, inspirational, non-institutionalised body of people who believe in the need for radical improvement within the construction industry.

The Construction Industry Council(www.cic.org.uk)

This Web site details the Construction Industry Council's role in the UK Construction Industry. The CIC was established in 1988 with five founder-members and represents over 350,000 professionals working for, and in association with, the construction industry and more than 19,000 construction firms. Its mission statement includes:

• •

  to serve society by promoting improved value and quality for clients and users;

• •

  to serve the construction industry by encouraging unity and by emphasising the significance of the built environment to the nation;

• •

  to serve members by adding value and emphasis to their work.

The Construction Best Practice Programme(www.cbpp.org.uk)

The Construction Best Practice Programme identifies, publicises and supports the use of improved business and management practices for the construction industry. After registration it is possible to download a wide variety of documents, case studies, fact sheets, business development tools, guides and diagnostic tools.

The European Committee of Construction Economists(www.ceec.org)

The profession of construction economists has developed along different lines in each European country and, through the CEEC, the profession exchanges information, research and practical experiences in order to promote the best of good practice. The primary aims of the CEEC are to:

• •

  establish guidelines for the definition, content, practice and supervision of construction economics;

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  co-ordinate working methods;

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  facilitate the exchange of information and experience;

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  promote basic and continuing education of construction economists;

• •

  promote the use of qualified construction economists.

Council for the Protection of Rural England(www.cpre.org.uk)

This site includes the CPRE's views on the important issues affecting England's countryside:

• •

  agriculture;

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  forestry and woodlands;

• •

  major retail developments;

• •

  minerals and quarrying;

• •

  telecommunications;

• •

  transport;

• •

  urban policy and the countryside.

The Coal Authority(www.coalminingreports.co.uk)

This Web site enables users to check whether a property is affected by coal-mining activity.

The Court Service(www.courtservice.gov.uk)

The Court Service is an executive agency of the Lord Chancellor's Department. This Web site covers policy, legislation and the Magistrates' courts. The new items include information on recent judgements and archived news items.