Lori Collins

Dr. Lori Collins is a Research Associate Professor at the University of South Florida (USF), holding appointments in the School of Geosciences (College of Arts and Sciences) and the Department of Anthropology. She serves as Co-Director of the Digital Heritage and Humanities Collection at the USF Library and leads the Alliance for Integrated Spatial Technologies (AIST), a center dedicated to preserving cultural heritage through advanced technologies. Her work bridges archaeology, geosciences, and digital humanities, focusing on heritage preservation strategies using LiDAR, terrestrial laser scanning, and 3D visualization.

Dr. Collins earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Applied Anthropology from USF and a B.S. in Agriculture from the University of Florida. She teaches courses on technologies for heritage preservation and museum visualization. Her research emphasizes Florida and Southeast U.S. archaeology, Mesoamerican iconography, and rock art preservation, with projects spanning sites in Mexico, national parks, and historic landmarks. Key methodologies include GIS, GPS, and integrated spatial technologies for documenting landscapes, monuments, and cultural resources.

Her publications address ethical considerations in 3D digitization, sinkhole analysis, and heritage management. She collaborates with institutions like NASA, national parks, and international archaeological teams. Her work aims to safeguard cultural heritage through innovation while fostering interdisciplinary education and global engagement.