Plan Your Next ARM Site Visit: Complete a Site Access Request

Published: 25 March 2026

Requests must be made for in-person visits or connecting to a site network or system

The Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) User Facility provides state-of-the-art infrastructure to conduct atmospheric science in strategic locations using fixed, mobile, and aerial observatories. Facility users, staff, and guests may request access to these ARM observatories for scientific research or educational purposes, whether for an in‑person site visit, connecting a device to a site network, or offsite remote access to a site computing system.

To visit an ARM site in person or to connect to a site network or system, a site access request must be submitted using ARM’s Access Request System. This ensures that requests are properly tracked by ARM, facility staff are aware of who is and is not approved for access, and if site operations assistance will be required. It also helps ARM staff know who is onsite in the case of an emergency and provide accurate visitor statistics to the U.S. Department of Energy.

Site access requests must be made by anyone seeking in-person, network, or offsite remote access, including researchers, students, and ARM staff who are not based at the site.

Site Access Request Requirements and Recommendations

For physical site visits, the request includes visitor information, the purpose of the visit, items being brought onsite, and any additional facility needs. When planning a group visit for general educational or informational purposes, for groups including student or community organizations, a single representative may submit one request on behalf of the entire group.

Network access requests require a justification for connecting, identification of the device being connected to the network, and system and site operational requirements needed for connection purposes.

Remote connection requests must include the purpose of the connection, the protocols to be used, and destination IP addresses.

To ensure that the site access request is evaluated and approved in time for the planned visit, whether in person or via an ARM network or system, the request should be submitted at least 14 days in advance for U.S. citizens and at least 30 days in advance for non-U.S. citizens.

Everyone physically or virtually accessing an ARM site is expected to follow ARM’s Code of Conduct. The code sets minimum expectations for personal and professional behavior while working at ARM observatories or while engaging in ARM cross-institutional activities.

Approved in-person visitors to ARM’s Southern Great Plains and Bankhead National Forest atmospheric observatories, which are both managed by Argonne National Laboratory in Illinois, must present REAL ID-compliant identification that meets Argonne’s site entry requirements.

For questions about the site access request process, including entry requirements at other ARM sites, please click Contact Us (also located in the top right-hand corner of ARM.gov), and choose the option “Campaigns and Accessing ARM Facilities.” Questions will be routed to the appropriate ARM staff member to provide a response.