Jason Charles Gauci

Title
Adjunct Assistant Professor
Email
Department
School of Engineering
College
College of Aviation

Areas of Expertise

avionics; embedded systems; sensors; image processing & computer vision; machine learning
Jason holds an undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Malta (Malta) and a PhD in Aerospace Engineering from Cranfield University (UK). He is a senior lecturer at the Institute of Aerospace Technologies at the University of Malta, and an adjunct at Embry-Riddle (Worldwide). His research interests include: unmanned systems, Air Traffic Management, and Machine Learning for aviation applications. In his free time, Jason enjoys flying, travelling, reading and cycling. 
  • Ph.D. - Doctor of Philosophy in Engineering, Cranfield University
  • B. - Bachelor in Engineering, University of Malta
  • UNSY 318: Uncrewed Aircraft Sys Robotics
  • UNSY 321: Uncrewed Sys Local & Path Plan

UNSY307 – Unmanned Systems Networking

UNSY318 – Unmanned Aircraft Systems Robotics

ENGR101 – Introduction to Engineering 

  1. Koopman C., Gauci J., Muscat A., Dingli A. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Real-time Aerodrome Detection using Deep Learning Methods’, IEEE/AIAA 41st Digital Avionics Systems Conference, Portsmouth, VA, USA, 18-22 September 2022.
  2. Zaninotto S., Gauci J. & Zammit B., ‘An Engineless Taxi Operations System using Battery-operated Autonomous Tow Trucks’, 33rd Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Stockholm, Sweden, 4-9 September 2022.
  3. Gauci J., Galea M. & Muscat A., ‘Human-in-the-loop Evaluation of an Active Sidestick Control System for Aircraft Taxiing’, AIAA Aviation Forum, Chicago, Illinois & Online, 27 June-1 July, 2022.
  4. Rahman A., Zammit B. & Gauci J., ‘A Fuzzy-based Site Selection Framework for Emergency Landings of Commercial Aircraft’, AIAA Aviation Forum, Chicago, Illinois & Online, 27 June-1 July, 2022.
  5. Theuma K., Chircop K., Gauci J., & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Enhancing Sparse LiDAR Data Captured on an Airfield Using 3D Aircraft Models’, International conference on Target and Background Modeling & Simulation, Bagnères-de-Bigorre, France, 7-10 June, 2022.
  6. Zaninotto S., Gauci J. & Zammit B., ‘A Testbed for Performance Analysis of Algorithms for Engineless Taxiing with Autonomous Tow Trucks’, IEEE/AIAA 40th Digital Avionics Systems Conference, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 3-7 October 2021. (Best of session award).
  7. Singh D. S., Gauci J., Dingli A., Muscat A., & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Automated Aircraft Stall Recovery using Reinforcement Learning and Supervised Learning Techniques’, IEEE/AIAA 40th Digital Avionics Systems Conference, San Antonio, Texas, USA, 3-7 October 2021.
  8. Gauci J., De Carlo J., Golfetti A., Tomasello P., Napoletano L., Turhan U., Uslu S., Yörük B., Güngören M., Gomes-Mota J., Matton N., Romano E., Feletig S., Geraldes D., Manaia F., Macedo M., Ribeiro A. & Drogoul F., ‘From education and training to the workplace: Gaps and challenges in aviation’, Ergonomics & Human Factors 2021, Online, 19-21 April 2021.
  9. Galea M., Zammit Mangion D., Muscat M., Thornton I. & Gauci J., ‘An Active Side Stick Controller for Aircraft Ground Operations’, AIAA SciTech Forum, Online, 11-15 & 19-21 January 2021, doi: 10.2514/6.2021-0760.
  10. Batra A. & Gauci J., ‘Aerodrome Taxiway Line Detection and Cross-Track Error Estimation Using Computer Vision Techniques’, IEEE Aerospace Conference, Big Sky, Montana, USA, 7-14 March 2020, doi: 10.1109/AERO47225.2020.9172787.
  11. Theuma K., Gauci J., Chircop K. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Fusion of Point Clouds for Obstacle Tracking during Airport Ground Operations’, AIAA SciTech Forum, Orlando, Florida, 6-10 January 2020, doi: 10.2514/6.2020-1682.
  12. Theuma K., Zammit-Mangion D., Gauci J. & Chircop K., ‘Implementation and Evaluation of a Multi-Model Filter for Aircraft Ground Operations’. Journal of Air Transportation, 2019, pp. 1-11, doi: 10.2514/1.D0144.
  13. Zaninotto S., Gauci J., Farrugia G. & Debattista J., ‘Design of a Human-in-the-Loop Aircraft Taxi Optimisation System Using Autonomous Tow Trucks’. AIAA Aviation Forum, Dallas, Texas, 17-21 June 2019.
  14. Theuma K., Zammit-Mangion D., Gauci J. & Chircop K., ‘A Particle Filter for Ground Obstacle Tracking in the Airfield’. AIAA SciTech Forum, San Diego, California, USA, 7-11 January 2019.
  15. Jasra S. K., Gauci J., Muscat A., Valentino G., Zammit-Mangion D. & Camilleri R., ‘Literature review of machine learning techniques to analyse flight data’. AEGATS ’18, Toulouse, France, 23-25 October 2018.
  16. Gauci J., Theuma K., Muscat A., Zammit-Mangion D., 'Evaluation of a Multimodal Interface for Pilot Interaction with Avionic Systems'. 37th AIAA/IEEE Digital Avionics Systems Conference (DASC), London, England, UK, 23-27 September 2018.
  17. Gauci J., Theuma, K., Archer, R., Grech, R., Zammit-Mangion, D., ‘Ground and Flight Testing of a Multi-Sensor Obstacle Detection and Tracking System for RPAS Situation Awareness’. 31st Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Belo Horizonte, Brazil, 9-14 September 2018.
  18. Galea M., Zammit B. and Gauci J., ‘Design of a Multi-Layer UAV Path Planner for Cluttered Environments'. International Conference on Unmanned Aircraft Systems ICUAS 2018, Dallas, USA, 12-15 June 2018.
  19. Theuma K., Chircop K., Gauci J. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Implementation and Evaluation of a Multi-Model Filter for Aircraft Ground Operations’. AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Florida, USA, 8-12 January 2018.
  20. Gauci J., Xuereb M., Muscat A. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Multi-modal Interaction between Pilots and Avionic Systems on-board Large Commercial Aircraft’. 19th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, Vancouver, Canada, 9-14 July 2017.
  21. Theuma K., Archer R., Chircop K., Zammit-Mangion D. & Gauci J., ‘Multi-Sensor Obstacle Detection and Tracking for RPAS Situation Awareness and Guidance’. Euro GNC - 4th CEAS Specialist Conference on Guidance, Navigation & Control, Warsaw, Poland, 25-27 April 2017.
  22. Gauci J., Theuma K. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Pilot Evaluation of a Decision Support Tool for Weather and Terrain Avoidance during Departure’, AIAA AVIATION 2016, Washington, D.C., 13-17 June 2016.
  23. Filippone E., Di Vito V., Torrano G., Taurino D., Ferreira A., Zammit-Mangion D. & Gauci J., ‘RPAS – ATM Integration Demonstration – Real-Time Simulation Results’. 15th AIAA Aviation Technology, Integration, and Operations Conference, Dallas, Texas, USA, 22-26 June 2015.
  24. Cauchi N., Theuma K., Zammit C., Gauci J. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘A Decision Support Tool for Weather and Terrain Avoidance during Departure’. 34th Digital Avionics Systems Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 13-17 September 2015 (Best paper of session).
  25. Gauci J., Cauchi N., Theuma K., Muscat A. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Design and Evaluation of a Touch Screen Concept for Pilot Interaction with Avionic Systems’. 34th Digital Avionics Systems Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 13-17 September 2015.
  26. Jedruszek M., Gauci J., Muscat A. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘A new HMI for Aircraft Guidance using Touch Technologies’, 31st EAAP Conference on Aviation Psychology: Facilitating Change(s), Valletta, Malta, 22-26 September 2014.
  27. Gauci J., Zammit-Mangion D. & Sabatini R., ‘Correspondence and Clustering Methods for Image-Based Wing-Tip Collision Avoidance Techniques’. 28th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Brisbane, Australia, 23-28 September 2012.
  28. Gauci J. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Correspondence and Clustering Techniques of a Stereo Vision System for the Detection of Obstacles around Aircraft in Aerodrome Areas’. 27th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Nice, France, 19-24 September 2010.
  29. Gauci J. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Obstacle Detection Around Aircraft on Ramps and Taxiways Through the Use of Computer Vision’. AIAA Guidance, Navigation, and Control Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 10-13 August 2009.
  30. Szasz S., Gauci J., Zammit-Mangion D., Zammit B., Sammut A. & Harris D., ‘Design of Experiment for the Pilot Evaluation of an Airborne Runway Incursion Alerting System’. 26th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Anchorage, Alaska, 14-19 September 2008.
  31. Gauci J. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘A Rapid Scenario Generation Tool for Repeatable Simulated Traffic Conflicts in Flight Simulation’. 26th Congress of the International Council of the Aeronautical Sciences, Anchorage, Alaska, 14-19 September 2008.
  32. Gauci J. & Zammit-Mangion D., ‘Setup considerations for calibration of a stereovision system for long range obstacle detection’. 3rd International Symposium on Communications, Control and Signal Processing, St Julians, Malta, 12-14 March 2008.

2021-present: Senior lecturer, Institute of Aerospace Technologies, University of Malta, Malta

2016-2021: Lecturer, lecturer, Institute of Aerospace Technologies, University of Malta, Malta

2019-present: Adjunct Assistant Professor, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Worldwide Campus

2014-2016: Research Officer, Institute of Aerospace Technologies, University of Malta, Malta

2013-2014: Consultant / Systems Engineer, Altran Technologies, Coventry, United Kingdom

2010-2013: Software Engineer, Resource Engineering Projects (REP), Worcester, United Kingdom


  • Member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and member of the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS)
  • Senior Member of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA)
  • Member of the Royal Aeronautical Society (MRAeS)
  • Member of the University of Malta Academic Staff Association (UMASA)
  • Member of the Air Transport and Aeronautics Education and Research Association (ATAERA)