to town planning-related websites

 

As of November 12, 2003

·         Site : http://www.energies-cites.org/en/ec_enje.htm

Organisation :

This site is proposed by an organisation named "Energies-Cités" which  brings together municipalities, intermunicipal structures, local energy management agencies, municipal companies, etc It deals with renewable energies in Europe.

Aspect :

The site has well-made graphics and is comfortable to use. Each menu gives access to specific informations and different links. A map shows the location of the organisation's members linked to an important database.

Contents :

The organisation gives information regarding its aims and activities, (in-depth information, exchange of know-how, assistance and advice, lobbying)

The site also presents the members of the organisation, showing the real european dimension of the renewable energies subject.

Why this site ?

We have chosen this website mostly because of its content, dealing both with renewable energies concerns and Europe. We also have appreciated the attractive appearance and the wealth of the links presented.

This resource can be very useful if you have a placement dealing with renewable energies.

 

·         Site : http://www.sepa.org.uk

Organisation :

This site is proposed by the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency. 

Aspect :

This site is well organised. There are pictures on the front page, green titles, both in reference to environmental cares.

Contents :

The site presents the traditional elements of a website: information about SEPA, press releases, publications, guidance, environmental data, education, consultation, links. If you click on the subjects, you can obtain details and hyperlinks.

There are also few quicklinks dealing with :

• Radioactivity

• Charging schemes

• Flooding in Scotland

• SEPA Weekly Briefing

• Pollution prevention and control

Why this site ?

We have chosen this website because it presents major information about environmental protection in Scotland. It is always interesting to compare the differences between their way of dealing with environmental protection and ours.

 These sites were explored by
Hélène Fonfrède & Daniel Pruvost

Dublin.ie

 

Organisation

This is the official site of Ireland chief town, that is to say Dublin City.

This site concerns not only town planning but many other subjects on this City such as the environment, economy and tourism.

 

Aspect

It is a clear site, organised in two columns on each side and a bigger space in the middle with the head titles and Dublin's catch phrase: Dublin, a greener city.

It seems pretty easy to navigate and it is understandable because we are on an official site that may be visited a lot of times per day.

It is a well-designed site, very complete with photos for better attractiveness.

 

Contents

The name of this particular article is entitled "What is town planning?"

 

It deals with the changes we have to make, the action we have to take, in order to change our daily life, and how to work on the urban ground to plan our own future. In this case we make sustainable development and organise a good future for the next generations.

 

Dublin's policies on environment and town planning insist on concertation or general arrangement between all the different actors, inside the city, around a common project.

 

To sum up, this message on town planning in the future is very positive and full of strength and ambition.

                                                                               

What I particularly like about this article is, first of all, its simplicity, then the way it tries to send a message using all the main words in terms of town planning and without making it too much. 

 

Mathieu Legris   IUP2 2003/2004

http://www.corrs.com.au/

Organisation:

Ben Caldwell is a senior associate specialising in town planning, environment and local government law. He works for Corrs, one of the few national law firms with a stand-alone planning, environment and local government practice group, which is now the largest in Australia.

Aspect:

This website attracted us because of the photo of its founder, Ben Caldwell, where he looks very dynamic. Furthermore, the colors and the good-looking presentation of the page made it nice to explore. Finally, the subject seemed to be very interesting.

Contents:

The main page, which is an overview, presents the missions of this group of lawyers specialized in town-planning and the environment.  They provide specialised legal services to diverse clients including resource and manufacturing companies, government authorities, local governments, property development companies, infrastructure providers, agri-business organisations, etc. They have qualifications and practical experience in complementary fields such as town planning, geography, economics, environmental science and science.

Emilie Degraix and Bastien Andre, IUP 2 ADT 

www.newurbanism.org

Organization:

newurbanism.org

Aspects:

The home page is well illustrated but not practical to use. Indeed there is too much information, it looks more like a link page than a home page. However, it gives you good information, like the whole website. This site contains a lot of links which are very interesting, too.

Contents:

The main subject is new urbanism, which is the most important planning movement this century, and is about creating a better future for us all. It is the same way of thinking as sustainable development. That is why the principles of this concept are:

1. Walkability
2. Connectivity
3. Mixed-use & diversity
4. Mixed housing
5. Quality architecture & urban design
6. Traditional neighborhood structure
7. Increased density
8. Smart transportation
9. Sustainability
10. Quality of life

In addition to links you can buy books and get informed about conferences and events on the subject.

 This site was explored by Emilie Turquin & Alice Courouble

www.acdi-cida.gc.ca

Organization :

The Canadian International Development Agency, a part of the official Canadian website. 

Aspect :

The home page is well done. First it is clear and good-looking. You can easily find the information you are looking for. And even if you do not want special information you can easily understand who they are, their missions and partnerships. There are also links to other sites, programs and organizations on similar subjects.

Contents

The CIDA is a national organization which supports sustainable development in developing countries in order to reduce poverty and contribute to a more secure, equitable and prosperous world. It is working with partners in the private and public sectors in Canada and in developing countries, and with international organizations and agencies, supporting foreign aid projects in more than 100 of the poorest countries of the world.

Their objective is to work with developing countries and countries in transition to develop the tools to eventually meet their own needs.

On this web site you can find the organization chart, some examples of their projects all aver the world, their policy and strategy.

This site was explored by Emilie Turquin & Alice Courouble

http://www.architectafrica.com/index.html

Organisation

The architects and architecture of Africa online. The organisation was established in 1995 and is located in Johannesburg, South Africa.

It is composed of:

• Publisher: ArchiNET South Africa

• Editor: Karen M. Eicker

• Web Management: Cyberlink Information Systems

• Advertising with Architect Africa Online: SABIC Marketing + Communications Group

Aspects

The presentation is clear, however we have encountered some problems with the navigation (eg. with the links).

The main bar (with the links) remains on each page and it facilitate the reading. Finally, the navigation is easy and the pages clearly presented.

 Contents

The site deals with the news of architecture and town-planning in Africa and presents especially articles about current projects.

Major links: News, Features, "Search Spider" (for various searches), e-practice for knowing and finding new logiciels and features and join the related Archishop.

The links to Directories, Employment and Archives hardly work.

The most important for us are the News:

 www.architectafrica.com/bin0/news.html

This site was found by Maïté Rauscher & Lucie Helfenstein
IUP ADT 2 2003-2004

http://www.cip-icu.ca/

Canadian Institute of Planners  

Organisation

The Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) has been dedicated to the advancement of responsible planning throughout Canada since 1919. It is governed by a volunteer council of professional planners. CIP serves as the national voice of Canada's planning community and has an international prolific activity. More than half of the CIP's 5800 members are government employees and more than one-third work are in private businesses.

CIP purposes are:

• To champion and lead progress and change in planning practice;
• To address issues of importance to the planning profession and the public interest;
• To act as the authoritative voice and the primary information sharing network for planners;
• To deliver relevant and contemporary benefits and services to its members.

 

Aspects

The site is quite easy to use because of a clear presentation and detailed web pages. The home page is attractive despite the restraint of colours. It proposes many links and downloadable documents giving an interactive form to the navigation. There is also two versions of this site, in English and in French, to enlarge his public.

Content

The CIP site gives a complete information about town-planning and development amenities and events. The first bent of  CIP is to advise planners and educators, so the site is linked with planning press and urban policies pages. It presents news and tips to help members manage their career and to open their mind to a social and modern town-planning.

The site introduces CIP initiatives, including:

• Awards for planning excellence ;
• An annual national conference;
• Discussion papers directories, reports and manuals to inform members about their profession;
• Recognition of Canadian university planning programs;
• Student programs and scholarship;
• International liaison/ Development of a land planners' professional in China.

This site found by Raphaël Tuma, IUP2 2003-2004

as of March 22, 2002

http://www.iser.org.br/

Organisation

ISER - Institute for Studies in Religion

Aspect

This site is clear and easy to look up, although somewhat dull in colour.It does not contain much English text but it is not surprising since it is a Brazilian website.

Content

It presents the activities and main topics of the Institute for Studies in Religion actions.
Principal activities are research, reflection, encounters and exchange as well as training for social agents.

Themes are violence, public safety and human rights, environment and development, religion and society.

We chose this website because it presents a lot of actions related to development and town planning. All the information is summarized, so reading is easy.

This site was explored by Maxime Goutagneux and Claire Gerbaud,
IUP2 2001-02

http://www.vyh.fi/eng/fei/fei.html

Organisation
the Finnish Ministry of the Environment

Aspects
easy navigation but few graphics

Contents

• Environmental policy and legislation (nature conservation, noise pollution, etc)
• Sustainable development
• State of the environment :
  • Water pollution: acidification of lakes, eutrophication,
  • Water protection: urban and rural wastewater treatment,
  • Causes of pollution: agriculture, industry, fish farming
• Threatened soil, causes, policy protection
• Information about the Baltic sea
• Sources of information
  • Research by keywords

Links

• Algaline database (websites about water research institute in the Baltic sea)
• Ministry of the Environment
• Regional environment centres
• Finnish Environment Institute
• Housing fund (state agency)
• International cooperation
• Organisation and information (library)
• Current situation about the environment
• Contacts with administration personnel

Conclusion

The website is very interesting regarding the environment protection policy in other European states because it is often said that North European states are ahead of Western European countries like France.

 

Lexis

Forestry

1.a. The science and art of cultivating, maintaining and developing forests. b. The management of a forestland.
2. A forestland.

Eutrophication

Pollution caused by chemical and organic fertilisers and favoured by warmth and rain.

Fabienne Pioli & Gaëlle Greusard,
IUP2 2001-02

www.iath.virginia.edu/stern/lar702/intro.html

Organisation
University of Virginia and the Catholic University of America.

Title: Town Planning in Post-Suburban America.
The study was realised during Spring 1995.

Aspects
Easy navigation, good maps and graphics, beautiful pictures, multiple plans.

Contents

The site shows the emerging edge city of Owings Mills in Baltimore Country, Virginia, outside Washington, D.C., a case study of urban design in the suburban context, and the reconsideration of the urban form of the edge city. The objective is to explore the symbolic aspects of public spaces, and the interrelationship between symbol, utility and function.

website plan:

• introduction
• course description
• general bibliography
• Owing Mills project resources
  • design proposals
  • student design team homepages

Lexis :

• Course description: description des enseignements

• Sustainable city: ville au développement durable

• Edge city: zone commerciale

Erika Chabal, Florian Trait and Damien Chabannes,
IUP2 2001-02

http://www.calm.wa.gov.au/

· Organisation :   The Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM). It is part of a greater conservation community and has distinct State government responsibilities within that community. As an agency with integrated responsibilities, it manages lands and waters for the conservation of biodiversity at ecosystem, species and genetic levels, including management for the renewable resources they provide, and for the recreation and visitor services they can sustainably support. · Aspects:   Funny graphics and icons, but a simple presentation and not enough photographies. · Navigation:   Very easy as the navigation bar is always visible. It is impossible to get lost. · Contents: The different links which are proposed to you:    Home page  Description of their organisation : who, what, where and how they work.  We can find three parts :  new projects like Munda Biddi Mountain Bike Trail, ongoing projects like Nature-based Tourism Strategy projects reports like Farming Carbon  Some news about their latest actions  It is not only a bookstore but it is also about dreams  Western Australia's public native forests are managed by CALM for many diverse values and industries, including nature conservation, tourism and recreation, water catchment protection and timber production.  Western Australia is a vast State covering 250 million hectares of some of the most ancient landscapes: rugged gorges, tropical reefs, towering forests, woodlands, white beaches and 12,500 kilometres of coastline. You can find links to all parks. You can find links to the key attractions, but also to travel information or industry information.  It is a magazine devoted to conservation, forests and wildlife in Western Australia.  CALM offers schools, teachers and students a variety of products and services designed to foster awareness, appreciation and understanding of the natural environment. You can find links about their various activities. Research activities of the CALM.  Australian unusual native animals continue to fascinate visitors from around the world and many are growing in abundance thanks to innovative projects and programs developed to fight against feral predators. Sandrine TRAYSSAC- Libéra BERTHELOT IUP2 2001-02

--THE DANISH TOWN  PLANNING INSTITUTE --

http://www.byplanlab.dk/english/

· The Danish Town Planning Institute is a private and independent institution that advances urban and regional planning in Denmark though seminars, conferences, planning debate and other activities.

· The home page is composed of  four web pages :

• home

• the Danish Town Planning Institute

• library

• other institutes

 

· The DTPI was established in 1921. The aim is to improve and promote physical planning. The DTPI emphasizes participation and continuous debate. The highest authority of the DTPI is an executive board of 11 members. It is advised by a committee of representatives of about 60 persons. The chairman is Peder Baltzer Nielsen.

· Ongoing Projects:

• the neighbourhood as a frame for children’s everyday life

• urban ecological Welfare Development

• benefits of Urban Green Spaces

• revitalising the planning system

• network on strategies for municipal plans

· Library:

The library of The Danish Town Planning Institute is a public library carrying literature on urban planning. The collection consists of books, periodicals and planning material.

Opening Hours : Monday-Friday 13-16, Thursday 13-18

· Other institutes:

Other institutions dealing with planning and urban development in Denmark. This homepage links to other Town Planning related sites.

This site was explored by Corentin CHARLES,
Maëlle LE ROUZES and Anthony VION-MEUTROT
(IUP ADT and MCL students)

 

I wish to congratulate our IUP2 students for this outstanding work of documenting a number of town-planning related sites.
Hopefully, this task will be continued next year and onward so we can keep ahead in this field.

Bernard Moro