Urban Ecology Links :: Website Typologies

 

After sifting through and testing myriad websites related to urban ecology, I identified each site as belonging to one of the following typologies in order to more accurately understand what purpose and audience it might be serving. If you click on each category below you will be taken to an edited list of websites that illustrate the typologies.

 

I.	PROJECT SPECIFIC This category includes any website that exists primarly to explain or describe one single project or case study.
II.	MAPS/GEOGRAPHICAL DATA These websites serve a purpose and audience beyond the scope of "urban ecology," however they are tremendous resources used by many planners and should be included in the discussion.
III.	ACADEMIC/EDUCATIONAL The most broad category of websites, schools and institutions often host specific projects, educational resources for the public, or research-based initiatives.
IV.	CIVIC AGENCIES Local, regional and national levels of government all have a presence on the internet; some municipalities clearly devote more energy to planning and environmental issues than others.
V.	PRIVATE/NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS These organizations, also present on local, regional and national levels, advocate some form of urban ecological awareness or action. They often do so in conjunction with a region or municipality. In these cases more than in others, the quality of a website is directly tied to an organization's funding and reputation.
VI.	NEWS + PUBLICATIONS This broad category includes all relevant written material found on the internet -- journalism, essays, policy reports, print magazines that have an online presence, etc.
VII.	PORTALS/INTERNET REFERENCE These websites act as reference lists for written material, case studies, other websites, or any combination thereof. These lists sometimes exist in and of themselves, however they are often found on specific pages within a larger website.