99th ESA Annual Meeting (August 10 -- 15, 2014)

WK 41

Free Ecological Data: NEON Data Portal Feedback Session

The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is an NSF-funded, continental-scale observatory that measures the drivers and responses of ecological change through time on U.S. ecosystems. For 30 years, NEON will collect standardized, site-based data about climate and atmosphere, soils, streams and ponds, and a variety of organisms. Additionally, NEON will provide regional and national-scale data from airborne observations integrated with remotely sensed data collected by Federal agencies to be accessible and useful to the ecological research community. The NEON data portal is the key interface through which ecologists and others will find, access and download freely available NEON data and associated resources. The accessibility and usability of NEON data by the ecological and educational communities is key to the success of the Observatory. The first release of the data portal is live (data.neoninc.org). However, given limited available data, the portal is still under development, with many improvements planned for subsequent releases. Community input is critical to both improving the data portal and ensuring freely available NEON data are widely accessible and discoverable.

This workshop will consist of two parts. First, we will introduce the NEON Data Portal, including available functionality, data and current development goals. Second, we will work in groups to identify issues, opportunities and unaddressed needs that will inform future portal development. Please join us in both learning more about freely available ecological data that can support ecological research and helping NEON improve the portal to better meet your research and education needs.