McCann develops spatial computing and wireless communications, which combine information from their environments with their digital components. Her group investigate convergence and anarchical spatial computing systems. To better understand this, she uses established understanding from systems beyond computing infrastructure (e.g. economics, biology, physics). She combines decentralised algorithms and protocols using low-powered sensing devices. These devices are very small and communicate with one another via radio signals.[2][6]
McCann joined Imperial College London in 2002 from City, University of London. She works on Adaptive Emergent Systems Engineering.[7] Her interests lie in harnessing the various interactions between the cyber and physical to improve performance, resilience and to make secure. She oversees the Alan Turing Institute Resilient and Robust Infrastructure challenge.[7]
McCann leads the National Research Foundation Singapore Eco Cities initiative. McCann also serves as deputy director of the PETRAS National Centre of Excellence.[8]
Sheng, Zhengguo; Yang, Shusen; Yu, Yifan; Vasilakos, Athanasios V.; Mccann, Julie A.; Leung, Kin K. (2013). "A survey on the IETF protocol suite for the internet of things: standards, challenges, and opportunities". IEEE Wireless Communications. 20 (6): 91–98. doi:10.1109/MWC.2013.6704479. ISSN1558-0687. S2CID11017278.
