I have done research on stochastic models such as time series, Markov chains and point processes and their applications in psychology and ecology. Recently, I have become involved with a network of statisticians, mathematicians and forestry researchers who are studying forest fires and ecology.

Statistical Forestry Research Some Local Fires New Researchers' Survival Guide Some Local R Packages

Publications   Book Reviews   Graduate Supervison   Graduate Thesis Examinations

Publications

  1. Zhou, L. and Braun, W.J. Fun with the grid Package. Accepted by Journal of Statistics Education.
  2. Woolford, D.G., Bellhouse, D.R., Braun, W.J., Dean, C.B., Martell, D.L., and Sun, J. A Spatio-temporal model for people-caused forest fire occurrence in the Romeo Malette Forest. To appear in J. Environmental Statistics.
  3. Braun, W.J., Jones, B., Lee, J., Woolford, D.G., and Wotton, B. (2010) Forest Fire Risk Assessment in Muskoka, Ontario. Journal of Probability and Statistics http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jps/2010/823018.html.
  4. Kang, X., Braun, W.J. and Stafford, J.E. Local Regression when the Responses are Interval-Censored. To appear in Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation.
  5. Wan, V., Braun, W.J., Dean, C.B. and Henderson, S. A comparison of classification algorithms for the identification of smoke plumes from satellite images. To appear in GEOMED.
  6. Barber, J., Bose, C., Bourlioux, A., Braun, J., Brunelle, E., Garcia, T., Hillen, T. and Ong, B. Burning issues with PROMETHEUS–the Canadian wildland fire growth simulation model. To appear in Canadian Applied Mathematics Quarterly.
  7. Woolford, D.G., Braun, W.J., Dean, C.B. and Martell, D.L. Site-specific seasonal baselines for fire risk in Ontario. To appear in Geomatica.
  8. Davies, K. and Braun, W.J. (2010) A two-dimensional Markov renewal process. doi: 10.1002/env.1049 Environmetrics.
  9. Asimit, J.L., Braun, W.J., and Simpson, W.A. On a threshold model for estimating response bias and its application to choice reaction time data. To appear in Advances and Applications in Statistics.
  10. Zhou, L., Braun, W.J., Woolford, D.G., and Wotton, B.M. A simulation study of predicting flush date. Communications in Statistics – Simulation and Computation, 38 1071–1082, 2009.
  11. Boychuk D, Braun W, Kulperger R, Krougly Z, Stanford D. A stochastic forest fire growth model. Environmental and Ecological Statistics Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10651-007-0079-z, 2008.
  12. Garcia, T., Braun, W.J., Bryce, R. and Tymstra, C. Smoothing and bootstrapping the PROMETHEUS Fire Spread Model. Environmetrics, 19 836–848, 2008.
  13. Braun, W.J. and Park, D. Estimation of sigma for individuals charts. Journal of Quality Technology 40, 332–344, 2008.
  14. Braun, W.J. and Zhou, L. One-sided tolerance limits via smoothing. Quality Technology and Quantitative Management, 5, 375–391, 2008.
  15. Braun, W.J., Li, W. and Zhao, Y.Q. Some theoretical properties of the geometric and α-series processes. Communications in Statistics–Theory and Methods 37 1483–1496, 2008.
  16. Boychuk, D., Braun, W.J., Kulperger, R.J., Krougly, Z., and Stanford, D. A stochastic model for forest fire growth. INFOR, Special Issue on Forestry 45: 9-16, 2007.
  17. Woolford, D.G. and Braun, W.J. Convergent data sharpening for the identification and tracking of spatial-temporal centers of lightning activity. Environmetrics 18 461–479, 2007.
  18. Kavaliers, M., Choleris, E., Agmo, A. Braun, W.J., Colwell, D.D., Muglia, L.J., Ogawa, S., and Pfaff, D.W. Inadvertent social information and the avoidance of parasitized male mice: A role for oxytocin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Science 103 4293–4298, 2006.
  19. Braun, W.J., Li, W. and Zhao, Y.Q. Properties of the geometric and related processes. Naval Research Logistics, 52 602–616, 2005.
  20. Asimit, J. and Braun, W.J. Third order point process intensity estimation for reaction time experiment data. Can. J. Statist. 33 243–257, 2005.
  21. Braun, J., Duchesne, T. and Stanford, J.E. Local likelihood density estimation for interval censored data. Can. J. Statist. 33 39–60, 2005.
  22. Braun, W.J. and Huang, L.-S. Kernel spline regression Can. J. Statist. 33 259–278, 2005.
  23. Braun, W.J., Rousson, V., Simpson, W.A. and Prokop, J. Parametric modelling of reaction time experiment data. Biometrics, 59 661-669, 2003.
  24. Braun, W.J. The LR-chart: An Alternative to the MR-chart. Quality Engineering. 16: 87–92, 2003.
  25. Zhao, Y.Q., Li, W. and Braun, W.J., Censoring, factorizations, and spectral analysis for transition matrices with block-repeating entries. Methodology and Computing in Applied Probability, 5: 35–58, 2003.
  26. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J., Re-colouring the Intensity-Based Bootstrap for Point Processes. Communications in Statistics – Simulation and Computation 32: 475–488, 2003.
  27. Kavaliers, M., Colwell, D.D., Braun, W.J., and Choleris, E., Brief exposure to the odor of a parasitized male alters the subsequent mate odor preferences of female mice. Animal Behaviour. 65: 59–68, 2003.
  28. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J., Estimating Parameters in a Tumour Growth Interacting Particle System: Continuity of Moments. Pakistan Journal of Statistics, S.E. Ahmed Special Issue, 18:149–164, 2002.
  29. Braun, W.J. and Hall, P. Data sharpening for nonparametric inference subject to constraints. Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics. 10: 786–806, 2001.
  30. Ahmed, S.E. and Braun, W.J. Testing the homogeneity of tumour growth rates in several models. Stochastic Modelling and Applications. 3: 11–22, 2000.
  31. Simpson, W.A., Braun, W.J., Bargen, C., and Newman, A.J., A new approach to visual simple reaction time using point processes. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance. 26: 1675–1690, 2000
  32. Braun, W.J. and Rousson, V., An autocorrelation criterion for bandwidth selection in nonparametric regression. Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation 68: 89–101, 2000.
  33. Braun, W.J., Replacing a ‘striped-box’ with the normal approximation. Journal of Statistics Education. v. 8 (electronic, 81K), 2000.
  34. Deng, Y., Braun, W.J., and Zhao, Y.Q.,M/M/1 queueing system with delayed controlled vacation. Operations Research Transactions. 3:17-30, 1999.
  35. Braun, W.J. Run-length distributions for estimated attributes charts. Metrika 50: 121-129, 1999.
  36. Zhao, Y.Q., Braun, W.J. and Li, W., Northwest corner and banded matrix approximations to a Markov chain. Naval Research Logistics 46 187-197, 1999.
  37. Li, W., Braun, W.J. and Zhao, Y.Q., Stochastic scheduling on a repairable machine with Erlang uptime distribution. Advances in Applied Probability 30: 1073-1088, 1998.
  38. Zhao, Y.Q., Li, W. and Braun, W.J., Infinite block-structured transition matrices and their properties. Advances in Applied Probability. 30: 365-384, 1998.
  39. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J., A bootstrap for point processes. Journal of Statistical Computation and Simulation. 60: 129-155, 1998.
  40. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J., Properties of a Fourier bootstrap method for time series. Communications in Statistics A. 26: 1329-1337, 1997.
  41. Zhao, Y.Q., Li, W. and Braun, W.J., On a decomposition for infinite transition matrices. Queueing Systems. 27:127–130, 1997.
  42. Braun, W.J. An illustration of bootstrapping using video lottery terminal data. Journal of Statistics Education. v. 3 (electronic, 18K), 1995.
  43. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J. Data analytic implementation of an interacting particle system model for tumor growth. Pakistan Journal of Statistics. 11: 123-136, 1995.
  44. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J. Differential equations for moments of an interacting particle process on a lattice. Journal of Mathematical Biology v. 31 199–214, 1993.
  45. Braun, W.J. and Kulperger, R.J. Interacting particle systems as cell growth models: Can they be identified? The Western Journal of Graduate Research 3 106-115, 1991.

Book Reviews

  1. Braun, W.J. Review of Statistics in the Law (by Joseph Kadane, Oxford University Press), Law, Probability and Risk. 2009.
  2. Braun, W.J. and Yu, H. Review of Weighing the Odds (by David Williams, Cambridge University Press), SIGSAM Bulletin of the ACM. 2002.

Graduate Supervison

Master's Projects

  1. Helen Huang (jointly supervised by R. Kulperger) “Statistical Modelling of Aberrant Crypt Foci”, 2000-01.
  2. Larraine Becker (jointly supervised by D. Bellhouse) “Estimation of Molecular Relative Frequency in ICS Images”, 2001-02.
  3. Jennifer Prokop “Application of a Third-Order Intensity Function to the Analysis of Reaction Time Data”, 2001-02.
  4. Cecilia Wong “Bootstrapping Long-Memory Processes”, 2003-04.
  5. Diana Asimit “On the Modelling of Preneoplastic Lesions in Rat Colons with Birth and Death Processes”, 2003-04.
  6. Aniela Moisei (collaborative program in Biostatistics; jointly supervised with Reg Kulperger) ”Estimating Parameters for an Interacting Particle System”, 2003-04.
  7. Tingting Gou (jointly supervised with Matt Davison), “Statistical and Mathematical Analysis of TSE Time Series”, 2003-05.
  8. Linan Xu (jointly supervised with Wenqing He), “Investigating Treatment Program for Patients with Severe Mental Illness”, 2005-2006.
  9. Hong Zheng, “Bandwidth Selection for Interval Censored Data”, 2005-2006.
  10. Yang Yang, “On the Analysis of Female Mice Preference and Tolerance Data”, 2006.
  11. Tanya Garcia (jointly supervised with R. Kulperger), “Improving the Prometheus model through smoothing”, 2005-2006.
  12. Lutong Zhou, “Better nonparametric one-sided tolerance limits”, 2006-2007.
  13. Jialin Sun (jointly supervised with D. Bellhouse), “Human-Caused Fires in The Romeo Malette Forest”, 2006-2007.
  14. Jonathan Lee “Forest Fire Risk Assessment in Muskoka, Ontario”, 2008-2009. (jointly supervised with D. Woolford)
  15. Victoria Wan, “Smoke Plume Estimation from Satellite Images”, 2008-2009. (jointly supervised with C. Dean)
  16. Kai Kang, “Sensitivity Analysis for Financial Time Series”, 2010-2011.
  17. Ka Ying Liu, “Triangular Data Analysis for Mice Maze Experiments”, 2010-2011. (jointly supervised with J. de Tibeiro)
  18. Li Geng, "Loss Estimation in the Muskoka", 2010-2012.
  19. Ge Jing, "Loss Estimation in the Muskoka", 2010-2012.

Doctoral Theses

  1. Jennifer Asimit “Analysis of Reaction Time Experiment Data using Point Process Techniques”, 2002-2006.
  2. Katherine Davies “Investigating a 2D Renewal Process”, 2004-2008.
  3. Xiuli Kang, “Constrained and Interval-Censored Kernel Regression”, 2007-2009.
  4. Mark Wolters , “Density Estimation Subject to Qualitative Constraints”, 2008-present.
  5. Lengyi Han “Randomizing the Deterministic Fire Spread Model PROMETHEUS”, 2009-present.
  6. Kevin Ma "Wind-Driven Fire-Spotting", 2010-present.

Graduate Thesis Examinations

  1. External examiner for Candemir Cigsar, Ph.D. Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, September, 2010. Supervisor: Jerry Lawless.
  2. External examiner for Lihui Zhao, Ph.D. Statistics and Actuarial Science, Simon Fraser University, September, 2009. Supervisor: Joan Hu.
  3. University examiner for Adrian Estrada, Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, August, 2009. Supervisor: Hanping Hong.
  4. University examiner for Sudhan Banik, Ph.D. Civil and Environmental Engineering, September, 2008. Supervisor: Greg Kopp.
  5. External examiner for David Tolusso, Ph.D. Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, August, 2008. Supervisor: Richard Cook.
  6. External examiner for Alberto Carabarin Aguirre, Ph.D. Mathematics and Statistics, University of Ottawa, June, 2008. Supervisor: Gail Ivanoff.
  7. University examiner for Tyler Hayes, Ph.D. Earth Sciences, January, 2008. Supervisor: Kristy Tiampo.
  8. External examiner for T. Koulis, Ph.D. Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, May, 2005. Supervisor: Mary Thompson.
  9. Departmental examiner for Y. Tsai, Ph.D., Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, U.W.O., 2006. Supervisor: Duncan Murdoch.
  10. Departmental examiner for W. Horn, Ph.D., Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, U.W.O., 2004. Supervisor: David Stanford.
  11. Departmental examiner for X. Zhang, Ph.D., Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, U.W.O., 2004. Supervisor: Duncan Murdoch.
  12. Extra-departmental examiner for M.Sc., M. Couillard, Applied Mathematics, University of Western Ontario, 2003. Supervisor: Matt Davison.
  13. Departmental examiner for X. Li, Ph.D., Department of Statistical and Actuarial Sciences, U.W.O., 2002. Supervisor: Duncan Murdoch.
  14. Member of Advisory committee for L. Cheung, Ph.D., Statistics, University of Manitoba, 1998–2002. Supervisor: John Brewster.
  15. Extra-departmental examiner for C. Hulet, M.E.Sc., Chemical Engineering, University of Western Ontario, 2002. Supervisor: C. Briens.
  16. Extra-departmental examiner for M.Sc., H. Mannan, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of Western Ontario, 2001.
  17. External examiner for A. Nikulin, Ph. D., Computer and Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 1998.
  18. External examiner for P. Jilkine, Ph. D., Computer and Electrical Engineering, University of Manitoba, 1997.