Press Release: Regional Knowledge Network Launches Major New Features Plus Data and Maps for Environment Topic Area

The institute’s Regional Knowledge Network, a central online information resource on the binational Buffalo Niagara region, has unveiled a major expansion of online features, including Community Quick Reports, or data snapshots for communities in the region, and a tool to Compare Communities across topic areas. Also new are data and mapping tools for the Environment topic area, completing development of the eighth of RKN’s nine topic areas. The section features 57 regional data variables across such issues as Environmental Policy, Energy, Nature and Wildlife and Air Quality.

Also, previewed in the Environment section are two new features that will soon be available for all RKN topic areas. Knowledge Now reports are quick analyses of regional issues produced by the institute based on RKN data. An analysis of the region’s energy dependency is featured in the Data section of the Environment topic area. Topic Trivia, accessible through the Resources area for each topic area, include rankings, lists and quick facts. Now available in Environment are Toxic Releases and Spills, the Most Common Trees and Weather Records for the region.