Flagler Beach, Fla. – Cardinal Systems, the provider of the Vr Mapping suite of products, announced that Orrin Thomas has joined the firm in the position of software engineer.

Thomas brings knowledge in areas including high-level mathematics, industrial and aerospace photogrammetry, cartography, land surveying and computer programming to the Cardinal team. His experience includes working with NASA’s Image Science and Analysis Group, and with the USGS Astrogeology Group. While with NASA, Thomas worked at the Johnson Space Center using photogrammetry to support the manned space flight programs-earning several honors for his space shuttle and international space station mission support. While with the USGS, his focus was in remote sensing, cartography and computer-related development. He was honored for his work in creating “the largest... and the most accurately placed DEMs ever produced of the lunar surface”, and for programming geometric camera models for several space-based line scan sensors including the Apollo panoramic camera and the Japanese Kaguya multi-band imager.

He earned a Bachelor’s degree, graduating Summa Cum Laude from the geomatics engineering program at California State University, Fresno. He also completed a Master’s degree in civil engineering with an emphasis in photogrammetry.

Mike Kitaif, Cardinal’s software development manager said, “Orrin’s deep knowledge and experience in theoretical and practical photogrammetry and remote sensing allows us to broaden our photogrammetric and LiDAR software development focus. Working with Orrin at NASA during the Space Shuttle program has given me insight into the possibilities that lie ahead.”