Collaborating with NEON

Extract

Although NEON science designs, data collection, and data processing are highly standardized, 
 there are a wide range of subsystems (e.g., soil array, groundwater wells) and sampling plots (e.g., tower plots, distributed plots) contributing to NEON’s catalog of open source data products. Understanding the distribution and purpose of subsystems and plots is the first step toward effectively leveraging NEON data. Second is access to contextual site information to aid researchers in interpreting NEON data or planning future collaborations with the observatory. To assist in that understanding, we have compiled important information (see the supplemental material) about NEON sites, measurement subsystems, plot types, and the data originating from them.

As a platform for facilitating ecological research, NEON welcomes and encourages collaborations with the scientific community and provides a wide range of services and resources to aid in advancing ecological research. Guidelines for initiating collaborations are summarized in the supplemental information and present interested parties a concise introduction to working with NEON. It is important to remember that proposals including the planned use of NEON resources beyond regularly available data products should contain accompanying letters of support. Letters of support can be requested via the NEON website, and requests should be submitted no later than two weeks prior to a planned proposal submission.