AST Databases

Appropriate and Sustainable Technologies Databases

Practical Action (formerly ITDG) in the UK provides a wealth of information and references in appropriate and sustainable technologies for the developing world. Technical Briefs provides fact sheets and basic practical information on appropriate technology.  

GAPMINDER is a non-profit venture for development and provision of free software that visualize human development.

A large database of information on alternative energy technologies is available through ABS Alaska Inc. Find out about solar, wind, micro-hydro, or backup power systems. Check the ABS Energy Information Library for more technical information about each system.

The Sustainable Building Electronic Directory links to hundreds of free sustainable building articles on the Internet.

The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE) has a new Resource Center on sustainability tools and programs on campuses in the US.

WELL is a resource centre network providing access to information and support in water, sanitation and environmental health for the Department for International Development of the British Government. WELL is managed by the Water, Engineering and Development Centre (WEDC) at Loughborough University in the UK.

Health Communication Materials Database is an international resource for all those with an interest in health communication materials: pamphlets, posters, audiotapes, videos, training materials, job aids, electronic media and other media/materials designed to promote public health.

International Network for the Availability of Scientific Publications (INASP) is a directory of organizations and activities working to improve production, access and dissemination of reliable information in and between developing and transitional countries. It contains links to engineering, appropriate technology, health, and many other topics available as on-line resources.

World Database of Happiness is an ongoing register of scientific research on the subjective enjoyment of life. It brings together findings that are scattered throughout many studies and provides a basis for synthetic work. See flow chart.

Appropedia's mission is to provide an easy-to-use, highly-available, fast, stable, open, fairly managed and multilingual library for sharing all the information, and to promote the use and expansion of the wiki in order to best support the advancement of Appropedia's Core Goals of Sustainable Development, Poverty Reduction, and Capacity Building

Howtopedia is a collaborative platform for practical knowledge and simple technologies, i.e. technologies that require no complex machine, that are easily explainable and usable by individuals or small communities for a sustainable and ecological future.

Demotech develops applications for third world countries that can be built with locally available materials, with locally available knowledge against a fraction of the costs it takes normally. Check technology categories or learn how to build simple technologies.

Solar Cooking Archive and Solar Cooking Archive Wiki: A comprehensive review of solar cooking technologies.

EAWAG provides key publications on Water and Sanitation in Developing Countries.   

ApproVideo provides a collection of short videos illustrating a wide range of sustainable and appropriate solutions for developing communities worldwide.