Introducing World Streets Worldwide New Mobility Knowledge Browser, 3.0
KNOOGLE: Use it like Google, but . . . the great advantage over the usual Google search is that (a) it is much more compact and focused in its offering, because (b) it scans and reports on the work and offering of the carefully selected key sources that are leading the way.
Click here to test KNOOGLE: http://knoogle.ecoplan.org
In brief:
Origins: KNOOGLE New Mobility 3.0 is the third iteration of a power search engine originally developed in 2007 by EcoPlan and World Streets in cooperation with the SMART program of the University of Michigan.
Targeted users: Specifically tailored to help policy makers, local government, researchers, NGOs, students, activists, consultants, concerned citizens and the media keep up efficiently with the work and activities of the leading international groups, programs and sources leading the field of sustainable transport and sustainable cities worldwide.
Use: We invite you to test Knoogle to view the results of a quick unified scan based on your selected key words, combing through more than one thousand carefully selected institutions, programs and sources that we view as leading the way in their work and competence in our heavily challenged sector world-wide.
Convergence: KNOOGLE has been developed as part of a project getting underway – Convergence: Toward a General Theory of Transport in Cities — in which we are looking into ways to create tighter linkages and better coordination between the fast expanding number of programs and agencies that are concerned with issues of sustainable transportation, climate, environment, etc. For full background on this project in process contact eric.britton@ecoplan.org. And if you wish to get involved or contribute in any way please get in touch.
Contact: Try it, use, it and let us know how to improve it for all. Here is how to get in touch with your ideas for improvement:
World Streets — https://worldstreets.wordpress.com
EcoPlan International
9, rue Gabillot. Lyon 69003, France
E: admin@ecoplan.org T: +336 5088 0787 Skype : newmobility
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Additional Background
What is Knoogel?
Knoogle 3.0 is the third iteration of a combined power search engine specifically tailored to help policy makers, local government, researchers, NGOs, activists, students, consultants, concerned citizens and the media keep up efficiently with the work and plans of the leading groups, programs and sources leading the field of sustainable transport and sustainable cities, worldwide.
Knoogle is a free product of EcoPlan and World Streets, aimed at better linking a world-wide learning community in support of urgent, climate-driven transport reform in cities.
We invite you to test our in-process combined search engine to view the results of a quick unified scan based on your selected key words, combing through more than one thousand selected institutions, programs and sources in thirty countries that we view as leading the way in their work and competence in our heavily challenged sector world-wide.
What makes Knoogle klick?
There are four main building blocks of this tool set, the first of which is Google’s excellent search functionality which does the heavy lifting. (The name combines the two basic components that make it work, KNOwledge and goOGLE, into a single memorable (?) word (pronounced “kah-noogle”).) Our contribution is simply to point it in the right direction, as follows:
The targeted sources:
The next building block is the selection of programs and sources to which we have directed the search engine. Thus far more than five hundred in number, each has been carefully screened for inclusion here as a result of our research identifying what we regard as the premier sources and programs working in the areas that specifically concern us – sustainable transport, new mobility, climate, environment, reform programs, etc. To get a feel for these sources all you have to do is try a few sample searches and inspect the programs that are called up in the search results. (If you click here, you will see an in-process (partial) listing of these excellent sources.)
Key words:
In carrying out your search you can of course use the usual key word filters in combination. (Click here for a reminder on this if useful.) Let’s look at an example by way of quick illustration: “BRT” generates 439 Knoogle references. “BRT + India” narrows this down to 217 entries, “BRT + Pune” calls up 75 entries — most of which are right on topic. The usual except that we are dealing here with targeted references and not the dog’s lunch.
Search refinements:
Then as a next narrowing device, you will see that each search results’ page also shows in the top rows which show the “Search refinements” which we have developed on what we see as key topics of interest, ranging from different transport modes. Refinements are labels that you apply to websites. They appear as a list of links above search results, offering you a way to narrow their search.
The 3.0 version provides on click refinements for the following categories: Children, Climate, Conferences, Economics, Energy, Freight, Land use, Measurement, Non-motorized, Paratransit, Parking, Pollution, Presentations, Public Transport, Traffic, Videos. Each of these calls up not one but a tailored cluster of keywords. As an example when you click Public Transport, it will automatically search the specified target for any mention of public transport, but also public transit, bus, rail, BRT, LRT, tramway, metro, train, subway, Mobilien. And of course if you feel that these composite keywords cast the net too wide, all you have to do is narrow the search with your own selection.
Google or Knoogle?
When the first of these search engines appeared on the scene in the nineties, there was great satisfaction to being able to dredge up comparatively large numbers of results in swift answer to our queries. But navigating these shoals has become ever more difficult as the numbers explode. Fortunately judicious use of the key words and other advanced search tools has helped greatly for our daily uses. In fact, the idea behind Knoogle is to take this idea of useful narrowing one full stage further, and in this case specifically in the context of the issues which bring us all here.
Let’s have a look at a couple quick comparisons showing why we feel this kind of directed search may be useful to you. Suppose you are going to Kabul for the first time on a mission involving our shared concerns. You fire up your browser and you get:
- Karachi: Google – 17 million general references. Knoogle 1.0: 129 targeted transport-related references.
- Karachi + pollution: Google – 1.5 million. Knoogle: 98 references, again transport-related
Likewise, a Google search on “parking strategies” will open up the portals to a bit more than 46,000 references. By contrast Knoogle 3.0: about a tenth that, most of which on or close to target. As noted this is still a beta version, and it will get better . . .
So here is how you can help
- Play with it, work with it, and let us know what you think needs to be improved.
- Are there other major international sources or centers of excellent on our topic that in your view should be incorporated into our search list?
- What about our chosen Search Refinements? Are we missing anything? Are the nested key words not doing the job?
Tell us and we will work on it.
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Eric Britton
13, rue Pasteur. Courbevoie 92400 France
Bio: Founding editor of World Streets (1988), Eric Britton is an American political scientist, teacher, occasional consultant, and sustainability activist who has observed, learned, taught and worked on missions and advisory assignments on all continents. In the autumn of 2019, he committed his remaining life work to the challenges of aggressively countering climate change and specifically greenhouse gas emissions emanating from the mobility sector. He is not worried about running out of work. Further background and updates: @ericbritton | http://bit.ly/2Ti8LsX | #fekbritton | https://twitter.com/ericbritton | and | https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericbritton/ Contact: climate@newmobility.org) | +336 508 80787 (Also WhatApp) | Skype: newmobility.)
WORLD STREETS __ A New Mobility Action Plan for 2022 
Reblogged this on Sustainable Penang : Toward a New Mobility Agenda.
Eric
tapped in a few key word searches – yep – like what I saw! Of course there are further filters that can be applied, but its a really good idea…and one of course that will need users to comment so that improvements can be made. Keep us informed of its progress and what further use you have for some test dummies!
cheers
jim