The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a long-term ecological observatory focused on collecting and providing open, continental-scale data that characterize and quantify complex and rapidly changing ecological patterns and processes. As part of the broader Observatory design, specific components of the Observatory are available to funded researchers for Principal Investigator-driven studies as part of NEON’s Assignable Asset Program. The available Assignable Assets include the Mobile Deployment Platform (MDP), the Sensor Infrastructure (SI), sampling locations or biological samples as part of the Observational Sampling Infrastructure (OSI), and the remote sensing capabilities of the Airborne Observation Platform (AOP). In addition to the infrastructure assets, NEON has deployable field sampling teams near NEON sites to support specimen collection and observations for specific research needs. Researchers can also gain access to the growing collection of plant and animal specimens and soil and water samples that NEON staff have gathered and stored in the NEON Bioarchive for study and analyses. Mobile Deployment Platform (MDP): NEON offers a suite of these self-contained, mobile arrays of sensors, power systems, and data logging capabilities for capturing atmospheric, soil, and aquatic-based measurements. Sensor Infrastructure (SI): Includes infrastructure (i.e., towers, power, and communications) for physical instrument systems or arrays for collecting environmental data from automated sensor suites. Observational Sampling Infrastructure (OSI): Allows researchers access to NEON sampling locations or to biological samples at NEON sites before samples are archived. Airborne Observation Platform (AOP): Provides a suite of remote sensing instruments mounted into a Twin Otter aircraft for collecting airborne-based data at nearly any site of interest in the U.S.

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a long-term ecological observatory focused on collecting and providing open, continental-scale data that characterize and quantify complex and rapidly changing ecological patterns and processes. As part of the broader Observatory design, the NEON Assignable Assets Program provides access to NEON infrastructure enabling Principal Investigator (PI)-driven research. Requests can be from five main areas: Sensor Infrastructure (SI), Observational Sampling Infrastructure (OSI), the Airborne Observation Platform (AOP), the Mobile Deployment Platform (MDP), and Field Site Access and Coordination (FSAC). NEON’s field sampling teams are also available at NEON sites to support specimen collection and observations for specific research needs. The PI or their sponsor is responsible for costs incurred by the NEON program to complete the requested access or collection. In addition, NEON can provide Letters of Support/Collaboration for collaborating with NEON scientists or using NEON data. Sensor Infrastructure (SI): NEON offers access to existing sensor infrastructure (i.e., towers, power, and communications) for installation of physical instrument systems or the addition of new arrays for collecting data from automated sensor suites. Observational Sampling Infrastructure (OSI): PIs can request that NEON Field Ecologists collect data or biological samples at NEON sites. Airborne Observation Platform (AOP): Provides a suite of remote sensing instruments mounted in an aircraft for collecting airborne-based data (discrete and waveform LiDAR, hyperspectral imagery, and RGB camera). Mobile Deployment Platform (MDP): NEON offers a suite of self-contained, mobile arrays of sensors, power systems, and data logging capabilities for capturing atmospheric, soil, and aquatic-based measurements. These are deployable in areas of interest to capture data analogous to ongoing NEON data collection. Field Site Access Coordination (FSAC): Researchers may want to work within or adjacent to NEON sites while not utilizing NEON infrastructure or personnel. Review of these projects ensures no impact to NEON data collection, and provides minimal logistical support for working adjacent to NEON sites. More at https://www.neonscience.org/assignable-assets