WEB: new EPFL search engine
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A new search engine solution for EPFL websites is online since August 27, 2018. Now, the search functions are managed by Google's alogrithmes via the API Google Custom Search.
In replacement of the Google Search Appliance solution, abandoned by its producer since 2018, the search field present on the EPFL web pages uses another Google product, the GSA, which will check the sites of the domain .epfl.ch.
Only external pages (not protected by Diode or behind a password) are indexed. Google regularly indexes the domain .epfl.ch and offers a list of results according to its algorithms and the popularity of the pages found.
A webmaster disappointed in the ranking of its pages has interest in consulting the best practices taught by Google to improve their ranking. However, in the future EPFL website (currently under construction), special attention will be paid to SEO). Similarly, the people pages of the same person can appears twice: this will be corrected in the next version of the ''people'' service.
Languages
It is possible to choose the language of the interface, but not to limit the list of results to the pages in only one language. Google determines the relevance of the results according to a series of criteria that can make up a page in English even if the term is in French from the French version.
Search in the 'people' tab
This tab has a different behavior from the global search: in fact, it is not based on a Google index, but on the LDAP directory of people at EPFL (students, staff, any accredited person), which guarantees its completeness. Note that it is possible to search by name and surname, phone number, office or SCIPER, but not via functions or expertise.
Search in the 'publications' tab
In this first step, the results displayed are from the Google API, but soon it will be replaced by the search field on the website infoscience.epfl.ch.
Report a bad result
If you notice that outdated pages appear in the results (a former lab for a current research project by example), do not hesitate to send it back via the link at the bottom of the page: we will contact the site manager for correction or deletion.