Contact Information

Research Interests

General

My core research interests lie in the area of uncertainty management in engineering analysis and decision making.  My research philosophy and interests are summarized by the INFORMS slogan: the science of better.  In my research, I strive to draw principles and lessons from my operations research, financial engineering, and mechanical engineering studies and use them to infuse mathematics, simulations, models, expert opinions, and economics into engineering practice in a rigorous and theoretically justifiable manner—all in the pursuit of the science of better engineering. 

Borrowing from a corporate slogan, my goal is to claim: I do not design the products you buy; I make the designs of the products you buy better.  My strengths strongly complement this goal; I am a systems thinker and multidisciplinary integrator.  My biggest contributions arise when I am working at the interface between disciplines, such as mapping and creatively adapting solutions found in one discipline to problems found in another.

My long-term vision for engineering research focuses on the collaborative, simulation-based analysis, design, and management of interdisciplinary, complex systems.  This area requires new methods for managing information, uncertainty, and people in the engineering process.  This presents the interesting challenge of laying a theoretical foundation for quantitative analysis that is operational within the practical limitations of applied, real-world problems. 

Research Associate position at ARL-UT Austin

My research at the Applied Research Laboratories at the University of Texas as Austin is in robust target tracking and data (or information) fusion.  I am exploring the fusion (or combination) of data and information in sensor networks, focusing on sonar applications as part of an Office of Naval Research sponsored project.  The challenge in such systems is that the information from different sensors is often of differing types and resolutions.  Additionally, the information may not be available at regular intervals and may contain errors that are difficult to describe with complete probabilistic models.  The goal of the research is to identify means for not only effectively combining existing information, but also efficiently managing the collection of additional information.  In my current independent research, I am exploring how to infuse robustness and cost-benefit analysis into inferences and decisions in the context of identifying and tracking moving targets.  My approach draws from robust Bayesian statistics, imprecise probabilities, information economics, and decision analysis. 

Ph.D. research

As a Ph.D. student with independent funding from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship program, I had the opportunity to develop my own research program; I identified a gap in current practice and drew from engineering, operations research, mathematics, and economics to fill this gap.  Rather than incrementally adding to existing projects, I played a large role in establishing the direction of my advisor’s research program, serving as the lead author for our first papers on both imprecise probabilities and information economics—work that formed the foundation for a successful NSF proposal.

In my dissertation Managing Uncertainty in Engineering Design Using Imprecise Probabilities and Principles of Information Economics, I focused on laying the foundations for uncertainty and information management.  I presented a method for comparing decision approaches and demonstrated the value of using imprecise probabilities to represent uncertainty in risk-based design applications.  I also developed an approach for managing information collection according to the principles of information economics.  The approach trades off costs and benefits in terms of value, where the value is measured in the context of the performance of the system rather than in absolute accuracy.  I believe that by providing practical methods for managing uncertainty that are appropriate for design, this work will eventually improve the way designers collect information, evaluate reliability, manage risk, and model systems.

For more information and figures, please see my research interests, my Ph.D. proposal (pdf), or my publications.

Publications and Presentations

Journal Papers

1. Aughenbaugh, J.M., Scott Duncan, C.J.J. Paredis, and Bert Bras, (under revision), "A comparison of probability bounds analysis and decision analysis in environmentally benign design and manufacture."   Working draft.
2. Aughenbaugh, J.M, and B. LaCour. (under review).  "Sensor management for particle filter tracking."  IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.
   
3. Aughenbaugh, J.M., and J.W. Herrmann (in press). "Information Management for Estimating System Reliability using Imprecise Probabilities and Precise Bayesian Updating."  International Journal of Reliability and Safety.
4. Malak, R., J.M. Aughenbaugh, and C.J.J. Paredis (2009). "Multi-attribute utility analysis in set-based conceptual design." Journal of Computer Aided Design, 41(23), Special Issue: Computer Support for Conceptual Design, March 2009, pp. 214-227. Draft.
5. Aughenbaugh, J.M. and J.W. Herrmann (2009). "Reliability-Based Decision-Making: A Comparison of Statistical Approaches."  Journal of Statistical Theory and Practice, special issue on imprecision, 3(1), March 2009, pp. 289-303.
6. Aughenbaugh, J.M., and J.W. Herrmann (2008). "A Comparison of Statistical Approaches for Assessing Reliability."  International Journal of Reliability and Safety, 2(4), pp. 265-285.

7. Aughenbaugh, J. M., and C.J.J. Paredis, (2008), "Probability Bounds Analysis as a General Approach to Sensitivity Analysis in Decision Making under Uncertainty."  Society of Automotive Engineering Transactions--Journal of Passenger Cars--Mechanical Systems.   Draft.

8. Rekuc, S.J.,  J.M. Aughenbaugh, M. Bruns, and C.J.J. Paredis, (2007), "Eliminating Design Alternatives Based on Imprecise Information," Society of Automotive Engineering Transactions.   Paper.
9. Aughenbaugh, J. M. and C. J. J. Paredis (2006). "The Value of Using Imprecise Probabilities in Engineering Design." Journal of Mechanical Design, 128(4), pp. 969-79.  Draft.
10. Ling, J. M., J. M. Aughenbaugh and C. J. J. Paredis (2006). "Managing the Collection of Information under Uncertainty Using Information Economics." Journal of Mechanical Design, 128(4), pp. 980-90. Draft.

Refereed Conference Papers

1. Aughenbaugh, J.M. and B. LaCour, (2009).  "Use of Prior Information in Active Sonar Tracking." Information Fusion (FUSION) 2008, July 6-9, Seattle, Washington.

2. Aughenbaugh, J.M. and B. LaCour, 2008.   "Metric Selection for Information Theoretic Sensor Management."  Information Fusion (FUSION) 2008, Cologne, Germany.

3. Aughenbaugh, J. M. and J. W. Herrmann, 2007.  “Updating uncertainty assessments: A comparison of statistical approaches.”  ASME International Design Engineering and Technical Conferences and Computers and Information Engineering Conference, September 4-7, 2007, Las Vegas, NV, DETC2007-35158.  Draft.
4. Aughenbaugh, J.M. and B. LaCour, 2007.  “Measurement prioritization for optimal Bayesian fusion.” Information Fusion (FUSION) 2007, July 9-12, Quebec City, Canada. Excerpts.
5. Aughenbaugh, J. M., and C.J.J. Paredis, 2007, "Probability Bounds Analysis as a General Approach to Sensitivity Analysis in Decision Making under Uncertainty."  Society of Automotive Engineering World Congress, April 16-19, 2007, Detroit, MI, USA.  Paper.
6. Aughenbaugh, J.M., S. Duncan, C.J.J. Paredis, and B. Bras, 2006, "A comparison of probability bounds analysis and decision analysis in environmentally benign design and manufacture."  ASME International Design Engineering and Technical Conferences and Computers and Information Engineering Conference, September 10-13, 2006, Philadelphia, PA, USA, DETC2006-99230.    Draft.  Presentation.
7. Duncan, S., J.M. Aughenbaugh, C.J.J. Paredis, and B. Bras, 2006. "Considering the Info-Gap Approach to Robust Decisions Under Severe Uncertainty in the Context of Environmentally Benign Design" ASME International Design Engineering and Technical Conferences and Computers and Information Engineering Conference, September 10-13, 2006, Philadelphia, PA, USA, DETC2006-99486. Paper.
8. Rekuc, S.J., J.M. Aughenbaugh, M. Bruns, and C.J.J. Paredis, 2006, "Eliminating Design Alternatives Based on Imprecise Information," Society of Automotive Engineering World Congress, paper no.  06M-269, April 3-6, 2006, Detroit, Michigan. Paper.
9. Aughenbaugh, J.M, J.M. Ling, and C. J. J. Paredis, 2005.  "Applying Information Economics and Imprecise Probabilities to Data Collection in Design."  ASME IMECE 2005, Computers in Engineering Conference, IMECE2005-81181, Orlando, Florida, November 5-11, 2005.  Paper.
10. Aughenbaugh, J.M, and C. J. J. Paredis, 2005.  "The Value of Using Imprecise Probabilities in Engineering Design".  ASME International Design Engineering and Technical Conferences and Computers and Information Engineering Conference, Long Beach, California, USA, September 24-28, 2005, IDETC2005-85354.  Paper.
11. Aughenbaugh, J.M, and C. J. J. Paredis, 2004.  "The Role and Limitiations of Modeling and Simulation in Systems Design", in Proceedings of ASME IMECE 2004, Computers in Engineering Conference, IMECE2004-5981, Anaheim, California, November 13-19, 2004.  Paper.   Presentation Slides.

Other conference papers

• Aughenbaugh, J.M. and C.J.J. Paredis (2006). “The Importance of Intervals and Imprecision in Engineering Design.”  NSF Workshop on Reliable Engineering Computing, February 22-24, 2006, Savannah, GA.  Paper. Presentation.  
• Aughenbaugh, J.M. and J.W. Herrmann (2008).  “A Comparison of Information Management using Imprecise Probabilities and Precise Bayesian Updating of Reliability Estimates.”  NSF Workshop on Reliable Engineering Computing, February 20-22, 2008, Savannah, GA.

Other Presentations

• Aughenbaugh, J. M. and Brian R. La Cour, 2008.  "Less is more: application of sensor management concepts to the 2nd ARL:UT data set."   6th Multi-static Tracking Working Group meeting.  Wachtberg, Germany, July 4, 2008. 
  
• Co-organizer of a workshop titled “Uncertainty Representation in Robust and Reliability-Based Design” at ASME IDETC 2006 in Philadelphia, PA.  Also gave a presentation motivating the workshop that discussed requirements, evaluation criteria, and challenges for uncertainty modeling in engineering design.  Workshop included three other presenters and over 30 attendees.  Overview and presentations. 
  

• Aughenbaugh, J. M.  "The Value of Representing Epistemic Uncertainty in Systems Design." Poster presented at PDE 2005, The 7th NASA-ESA Workshop on Product Data Exchange (PDE), The Workshop for Open Product & System Lifecycle Management (PLM/SLiM), April 19-22, 2005, Atlanta, GA.
  

• Aughenbaugh, J.M.  "Agile Manufacturing in 2020: Managing Complexity and Uncertainty in Product Realization."  Winning entry into ASME DETC 2004 Student essay contest entitled "A Scientific Formalism for Product Realization in a Global Manufacturing Enterprise."  Poster was presented at ASME DETC 2004 in Salt Lake City, Utah, September 28-October 1, 2004. Presentation.

• Aughenbaugh, J. M., 2006, Managing Uncertainty in Engineering Design Using Imprecise Probabilities and Principles of Information Economics, Ph.D. Thesis, Mechcanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA. 
  
• Aughenbaugh, J.M. Ph.D. Proposal: Managing Uncertainty in Engineering Design Using Imprecise Probabilities and Principles of Information Economics.  August 2005.
  
  

Other papers and reports

Undergraduate Thesis

• J. M. Aughenbaugh.  Sizing Research and Development Portfolios in the Pharmaceutical Industry.  Advised by Professor John Mulvey, Princeton University, March 2001.
  

Class Reports

• J. M. Aughenbaugh.  ME6101 Semester Learning Essay. "Keeping up with the Joneses" December 2003.
• J. M. Aughenbaugh.  ME6101 Answer to the Question for the Semester. The Question: "How should the Pahl & Beitz systematic design method be augmented and personalized to include risk assessments, simulations, and better reuse of knowledge while supporting the realization of technical products and processes for a distributed design environment in the year 2020?" December 2003.
• J. M. Aughenbaugh, L. Valladares.  ME6101 Final Project Report. "Designing the Design Project." December 2003.
  
• J. M. Aughenbaugh.  MTBE Environmental Risk Analysis.  Final Project for CEE367 at Princeton University.  January 1999.
  
• J. M. Aughenbaugh. Affective Issues in the Search for Artificial Intelligence.  Final Paper for Psychology 322: Human Machine Interactions at Princeton University.  January 1999.

Links

• SIPTA (Society for Imprecise Probability: Theory and Applications)
• AMSE IDETC 2007 Conference
  
• ASME IDETC 2006 Conference, Workshop on uncertainty representation in robust and reliability-based design
• SAE World Congress 2007
• Journal of Mechanical Design (JMD)
• RAMAS RiskCalc (Third party commerical software for uncertainty propagation)
• Interval arithmetic links and researchers
• Information Fusion 2007 Conference
  

Other Information

My curriculum vitae  in PDF format.

Contributions to Systems Realization Laboratory Community:

• Webmaster, August 2004-August 2006.  Led and implemented the migration to the Plone/Zope based site that you are currently viewing.  This was a migration from a static-html site.  The addition of the Calendar and News items has helped to coordinate laboratory activities and improved our sense of community.  The eased ability of updating individual content has led to much more frequent updating of individual pages, hopefully spreading our research to more visitors and improving both our presence in the community, and the community as a whole.
• Intramural sports participant, including softball (Spring, Summer, and Polar Bear seasons), Ultimate, and Whiffleball.
• Official photographer of the SRL Superbowl 2005 (due to unfortunate broken finger incident that left me unable to play!)

Other activities while in Atlanta: When not working, I was found at the Atlanta Community Foodbank, swimming, playing Ultimate (Frisbee), or rooting on the Princeton Tigers, GaTech Yellow Jackets, Mets, and Falcons.  I'm was also a founding member of the Metro Atlanta Community Singers, a choral music group (community choir) in the Atlanta area.  I was a subscriber to the Theater of the Stars Series and the Atlanta Symphony, a season-ticket holder for the Falcons, and a member of the High Museum of Art. 

My convenient links.

Possible names listed in paper references:

 Jason Aughenbaugh
 Jason Matthew Aughenbaugh
 Jason M. Aughenbaugh
 J. M. Aughenbaugh
 J. Aughenbaugh

Common misspellings:
  Augenbaugh  Augenbach Aughenbach
   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh   Jason Aughenbaugh