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Links and Gateways

Archinet UK Building Directory
 http://www.archinet.co.uk/



 Bearing only a passing resemblance to the old Archinet site that used to be hosted here, the new Archinet UK Building Directory is essentially a rebadged version of the excellent Abacus Construction Index; while archinet.co.uk now hosts Abacus' UK content, the existing Abacus site at construction-index.com is being developed as a US-focused resource. If that's all too much to take in, don't worry - just visit Archinet and enjoy it. Aspiring to "bring together in one place recommended sources of information and advice about construction and architecture in the UK", users can browse its featured resources by type (online documents and websites), topic (including architecture, conservation, housing, planning and sustainability) or by product type; entries are well annotated, with lots of useful deeplinks as well as the more usual link to each site's homepage. The site has few visual embellishments, but is neat and easy to use, displaying its content very clearly and without fuss. A valuable resource, awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 5 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: con-230805-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Construction » Resources
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DFID Transport Links
 http://www.transport-links.org/



DFID Transport Links presents information about transport-related matters arising out of the UK Department for International Development's (DFID) programme of aid to developing countries. The site is attractively designed and up to date, with sections covering news, events and research; a list of publications, available to download as PDF documents; discussion of issues arising out of the relationship between transport and development; and a good page of relevant links. A valuable resource. [GAS, 20 Aug 2005].



ENTRY NUMBER: tra-140103-02
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Transport » Resources
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Ecosustainable Hub - Ecology Environment Sustainability
 http://www.ecosustainable.com.au/



 Ecosustainable Hub describes itself as a "one-stop connection to resources and tools on ecology, environment and sustainability... facilitating cooperation, networking and ethical developments". As well as information about its mission and scope, Ecosustainable Hub features an excellent section of project links; an Environment Sustainability Exchange, with tools, products, services and links; a forum section, including a message board; and the main links section featuring resources and tools on ecology, environment and sustainability. The site is slickly designed, and the use of images for navigation is an effective device. If there is a criticism, it is that sometimes there is almost too much information to digest at once - nonetheless, this is certainly an invaluable site for anyone interested in the environment, ecology or sustainability, awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 23 Jan 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-040303-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Australia
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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GEsource Geography and Environment Gateway
 http://www.gesource.ac.uk/



 Led by the GEsource team at the University of Manchester, GEsource is a free online catalogue of over 8,000 high quality Internet resources in geography and environmental science (including many resources relevant to landscape architecture, transport, sustainability, and the built environment in general). Resources are selected, catalogued and indexed by researchers and other specialists in their respective fields. The site itself is well-designed and easy to use - visitors can browse by category or search the whole database, while the level of information given about each featured resource is impressive. Elsewhere, the site also boasts a series of 'Feature' sections, including one that draws together resources about a range of natural hazards, and another providing themed timelines that "look at significant dates and events that have shaped the geographical world, from the formation of the Earth to the present day". Overall, this is an excellent site and an invaluable resource. Awarded a Sapling Commendation. [GAS, 20 Jun 2006].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-160805-06
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Resources
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 IKC RO
 http://www.ikcro.nl/



IKC RO is a Netherlands-based portal focused on physical planning, housing and environment. There are many useful features here, including an excellent section of web links organised by theme, plus links to planning-related articles and discussion sites. Although the site is wholly in Dutch, the structure of the site makes it fairly easy for anyone to understand and use. [GAS, 29 May 2007].



ENTRY NUMBER: pla-150801-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Netherlands
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Planning » Resources
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Sustainable Staffordshire
 http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/sustainablestaffordshire/



Sustainable Staffordshire is a gateway for sustainability and environment-related information, provided by the Sustainable Staffordshire Forum, and clearly organised into three mini-sites. The first, devoted to the Sustainable Staffordshire Forum itself, is a useful resource including details of events, news, publications and useful environmental links. The second mini-site is a Good Environment Guide, designed to help people reduce their harmful impact on the environment. Finally, the 'are you doing your bit?' section ties into the UK government initiative of the same name, focussing on the areas of energy, water, travel and waste. The site has a clear structure with good cross-linkages, while allowing each mini-site to have a distinct identity. Local authority websites can be quite dry, but Sustainable Staffordshire is a good example of one which is informative and user friendly. [GAS, 12 Aug 2005].



ENTRY NUMBER: sus-171002-01
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: United Kingdom
PRIMARY GATEWAY LISTING: Sustainability » Organisations
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