GRI Employee Spotlight
Daniel McCraine
Title:
Research Engineer II
Time at GRI:
4 years
Hometown:
Leggett, Texas
Q: What is your academic background?
I received my Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Electrical and
Computer Engineering from Mississippi State University.
Q: What are your research interests?
My main research interests revolve around Hyperspectral and LiDAR remote
sensing from UAVS.
Q: Who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
There wasn’t a particular person that inspired me to pursue my career. In the
Navy I was a Helicopter Aircrewman where I operated a RADAR and SONAR from the
back of a helicopter. These sensors and systems piqued my interest in the
electromagnetic spectrum and Electrical Engineering seemed like a good fit.
WORKING AT GRI IS GREAT BECAUSE WE ROUTINELY GET TO SWITCH THINGS UP BETWEEN VARIOUS PROJECTS. IN MY SPECIFIC ROLE I GET TO WORK HYPERSPECTRAL, MULTISPECTRAL, AND TRUE-COLOR IMAGERY, LIDAR AND SONAR POINT CLOUDS, AND HAVE EVEN HAD THE CHANCE TO INTEGRATE AN IN-HOUSE BUILT SENSOR TO MEASURE CARBON DIOXIDE CONCENTRATIONS FROM A UAV.
Q: What has been your favorite project while working at GRI?
I think my favorite project so far has been the USDA ARS NACA Project where we
are relating UAS imagery to soil moisture and soil health metrics. I think the
findings from that project could really help in the coming decades.
Q: What is the coolest thing you are working on right now?
GRI recently acquired a UAS SONAR and I have been working on figuring out the
ins and outs of collecting meaningful data with that. We are very close to
having bathymetric point clouds that we can merge with LiDAR point clouds to
have seamless terrain mapping of environments.
Q: What is something most people don’t know about you?
I like to read novels of all kinds, but I specifically lean into Fantasy and
Science Fiction.
Q: What kinds of hobbies and interests do you have outside of work?
When I am not at work I am usually working in the garden or on things around
the house. I really enjoy hunting and watching our chickens chase bugs around
the yard!