Robert Legg

Professor Robert Legg is a faculty member at Northern Michigan University (NMU) in the Earth, Environmental and Geographical Sciences department since August 2006. His academic rank is Professor, and he specializes in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Computer Cartography, Spatial Analysis, Quantitative Methods, Geoarchaeology, and Paleo-environments.

• Academic Affiliation: Northern Michigan University
• Education: MSc from University of Aberdeen, Ph.D. from Trinity College Dublin
• Specializations: GIS, Spatial Statistics, Archaeological Predictive Modeling, Remote Sensing

Professor Legg’s research focuses on GIScience and Geomatics, particularly their applications in geoarchaeology and paleo-environmental studies. He has contributed to projects involving Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR), predictive modeling of archaeological sites, and integration of climate data with settlement patterns in both the Great Lakes and Early Medieval Ireland. His work bridges geography, computer science, and environmental research.

His recent publications (2023–2010) span digital environmental humanities, maritime geography, archaeometry, and cultural studies. Trends include GIS applications in historical fishery analysis, coffeehouse culture, and paleoindian site location modeling. He frequently employs GPR, remote sensing, and spatial statistics to explore environmental and archaeological questions.

Scientific awards include:

• GISP Certification
• International Fellowship Grant (AAUW, 2024)
• NMU Academic Service-Learning Award (2007)
• Faculty Reassigned Time Awards (2016, 2017)

Professor Legg has mentored numerous students who now work in GIS across private and public sectors. His grants include collaborations with the European Research Council, National Science Foundation, and the National Park Service. He is involved in the NorFish Project and Centre for Environmental Humanities at Trinity College Dublin.