An engaged community of scientific programmers is an invaluable asset to any open data provider. The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a long-term observatory focused on collecting and providing open, continental-scale data that characterize and quantify complex and rapidly changing ecological patterns and processes. The observatory provides over 180 different data products that cover a wide range of variables of interest to researchers across the earth and life sciences. NEON creates and provides code and tools to enhance researchers’ ability to work with these data. In addition, NEON provides several platforms to help connect researchers sharing open code related to NEON data products with those who are also interested in using them. Code and tools created by NEON scientists are distributed through the NEONScience GitHub organization (https://github.com/NEONScience). Current tools include the neonUtilities R package that provides basic tools for accessing and working with most NEON data products, as well as the geoNEON package that facilitates access to NEON spatial data. Other code packages contain the algorithms used to produce specific data products, including the eddy4R package, used to create the bundled eddy-covariance data product. Finally, some code packages are designed to build upon published NEON data to create value-added, derived products. Members of NEON’s user community have contributed to some of the packages described above, and others are creating their own open code resources for using NEON data. Use of NEON code packages and development of open code are highly variable within the NEON user community, and NEON has explored several approaches to engage users in this aspect of the observatory, including online tutorials, webinars, workshops, and hackathons. Developing and expanding an engaged community of open code users around NEON data is a continuing and evolving effort for the NEON project.

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