Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement
The Journal of Sustainable Civil Engineering & Technology (JSCET) is committed to responsible scholarly publishing, research integrity and transparent editorial practices. The journal expects authors, editors, editorial board members, peer reviewers and the publisher to act fairly, objectively and responsibly throughout the submission, peer review and publication process.
JSCET also refers to the following COPE resources:
- COPE Core Practices
The principal framework informing JSCET’s publication ethics policies and procedures.
COPE Core Practices - COPE guidance on publication ethics and editorial responsibilities
JSCET refers to relevant COPE guidance when developing, reviewing and implementing its publication ethics policies and when addressing ethical concerns not specifically covered by the journal’s policies.
Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE)
Chief Editor 1
- Provide strategic leadership, direction, and vision for the journal to ensure its continuous development, academic excellence, and long-term sustainability.
- Establish and uphold the journal’s academic standards, editorial policies, publication ethics, and quality assurance practices in accordance with national and international publishing standards.
- Oversee the peer-review and editorial processes to ensure that manuscripts are evaluated fairly, rigorously, objectively, and ethically.
- Make final editorial decisions on the acceptance, revision, or rejection of manuscripts based on peer-review recommendations, academic quality, relevance to the journal’s scope, and compliance with publication standards.
- Strengthen the journal’s academic reputation, visibility, and international reach by establishing collaborations with researchers, institutions, professional bodies, and relevant academic communities.
- Lead initiatives to improve the journal’s indexing, citation performance, readership, and international recognition.
- Perform other duties necessary to ensure the effective governance, academic integrity, quality, and sustainable growth of the journal.
Chief Editor 2
- Assist Chief Editor 1 in the overall management, coordination, and performance of the Editorial Board and editorial activities.
- Coordinate and oversee the journal’s DOI registration, maintenance, and related requirements, as well as matters concerning registration and compliance with the National Library and other relevant authorities.
- Develop and implement strategies to promote the journal and increase its visibility, readership, submissions, and academic impact within national and international academic communities.
- Oversee the quality, academic standards, originality, and language quality of manuscripts received, ensuring that submissions comply with the journal’s scope, guidelines, and publication standards.
- Ensure consistency in the editorial style, formatting, referencing, and presentation of published articles.
Managing Editor
- Monitor the editorial workflow and manuscript processing, including the coordination of peer review, revisions, copyediting, proofreading, and publication preparation where necessary.
- Coordinate communication between authors, reviewers, and editors;
Assist in developing, reviewing, and implementing editorial policies, publication guidelines, ethical standards, and manuscript formatting requirements. - Assist the Chief Editors in implementing editorial policies;
- Monitor timelines to ensure timely publication; and
- Support the production and publication process.
Copy Editor
- Edit accepted manuscripts for grammar, style, and formatting;
- Ensure consistency with journal style guidelines and standards;
- Collaborate with authors to finalise manuscripts for publication; and
Assist in proofing and layout prior to final release.
Editorial Advisory Board
- Conduct peer reviews of submitted manuscripts as assigned by the Chief Editors or Associate Editors;
- Promote the journal and actively encouraging manuscript submissions through academic networks and professional initiatives;
- Provide guidance on the journal’s direction, scope, and strategic development;
Collaborate with the Chief Editors and Associate Editors to support the continuous improvement and quality enhancement of the journal; - Identify potential topics for special issues or recommending relevant conferences and events that align with the journal’s focus;
- Contribute to the journal by submitting your own manuscripts for publication; and
- Participate in Editorial Board meetings and conferences in accordance with established resolutions.
Associate Editors
- Assist the Chief Editors in managing the editorial and administrative processes of the journal;
- Coordinate the peer-review process for assigned manuscripts;
- Communicate with authors and reviewers to ensure the smooth and timely progress of the review process;
- Provide recommendations to the Managing Editor regarding publication decisions for manuscripts; and
- Contribute to the promotion and development of the journal from time to time.
Technical Editors
- Edit accepted manuscripts for grammar, style, and formatting;
- Ensure consistency with journal style guidelines and standards;
- Collaborate with authors to finalise manuscripts for publication;
- Assist in proofing and layout prior to final release; and
- Support the editorial team in technical matters related to the journal’s publishing system.
2. Responsibilities of Authors
Authors are responsible for the originality, accuracy and integrity of their submitted work.
Authors shall:
- submit original work that has not been published previously and is not simultaneously under consideration by another journal;
- disclose substantial overlap with previous publications or submissions;
- accurately report research methods, data, results and conclusions;
- acknowledge and appropriately cite the work of others;
- avoid plagiarism, fabrication, falsification and inappropriate manipulation of data or images;
- ensure that authorship accurately reflects substantial contributions to the research and manuscript;
- ensure that all authors have approved the submitted and final versions;
- disclose relevant financial and non financial conflicts of interest;
- disclose sources of research funding where applicable;
- comply with applicable research ethics requirements;
- provide the required Ethics Statement;
- provide the required Authors’ Contributions statement;
- provide the required Data Availability/Supplementary Materials information where applicable;
- comply with JSCET’s requirements concerning the use of generative artificial intelligence;
- obtain appropriate permission for copyrighted material where required; and
- notify the journal promptly if a significant error is identified in a submitted or published article.
Authors remain responsible for the content and integrity of their manuscripts regardless of whether external tools or technologies were used during manuscript preparation.
3. Corresponding Author
The corresponding author is responsible for communication with the journal on behalf of all authors.
The corresponding author shall:
- confirm that all authors have approved the manuscript before submission;
- ensure that the author list, affiliations and contact information are accurate;
- confirm that the manuscript is not under consideration by another journal;
- coordinate communication between the journal and co authors;
- coordinate responses to editorial and reviewer comments; and
- ensure that all required declarations and supporting information are complete and accurate.
DUTIES OF THE CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
- Ascertain that all named authors have approved the article’s submitted version and any subsequent updates.
- Ensure that all named authors agree to its submission and are willing to accept appropriate responsibility for it.
- Ascertain that all authors have approved the accepted version of the paper.
- Ensure that no other journal is considering the work at the time of submission.
- Ascertain that all co-authors’ contact information is entered and correct at the time of submission.
4. Peer Review Responsibilities
JSCET uses the peer review process specified in its Peer Review Policy. The journal’s peer review process is designed to provide an independent and fair assessment of submitted manuscripts.
Reviewers shall:
- accept a manuscript for review only when they have appropriate subject expertise;
- disclose any actual, potential or perceived conflict of interest;
- maintain the confidentiality of the manuscript and review process;
- evaluate the manuscript objectively, fairly and constructively;
- assess the originality, scientific quality, methodology, results and contribution of the work;
- identify significant methodological, ethical or research integrity concerns;
- notify the editor if they suspect plagiarism, duplicate publication, fabricated data or other misconduct;
- complete the review within the timeframe specified by JSCET or inform the editor promptly if this is not possible; and
- not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal or professional purposes.
Reviewers should recommend citations only where they are directly relevant to the manuscript. Citation recommendations must not be used to improperly increase citations to the reviewer, other authors or JSCET.
Detailed procedures governing the peer review process are provided in the JSCET Peer Review Policy.
5. Conflicts of Interest
Authors, editors and reviewers must disclose actual, potential or perceived conflicts of interest that could affect their judgement.
Conflicts may arise from financial relationships, employment, consultancy, research funding, personal relationships, academic competition or other circumstances that could reasonably affect objectivity.
Where a conflict could compromise impartiality, the individual concerned shall withdraw from the relevant editorial or review process.
Detailed requirements are provided in the JSCET Conflict of Interest Policy.
6. Research Ethics and Ethical Oversight
Authors are responsible for ensuring that their research complies with applicable ethical, institutional and regulatory requirements.
Where research involves human participants, animals, personal data or other research requiring ethical oversight, authors must obtain the appropriate approval or exemption before conducting the research.
Where applicable, manuscripts should provide information concerning:
- the approving ethics committee or institution;
- the approval or reference number;
- informed consent or consent for publication where applicable; and
- other relevant ethical safeguards.
JSCET may request evidence of ethical approval or exemption where necessary.
Detailed requirements concerning research involving human participants and animals are provided in the JSCET Declaration on Human and Animal Rights.
7. Data and Research Transparency
Authors must report their research accurately and provide sufficient methodological information to support appropriate evaluation of the work.
Where applicable, authors should provide a Data Availability/Supplementary Materials statement indicating whether supporting data, materials or supplementary information are available and how they may be accessed.
Where data cannot be shared because of ethical, legal, confidentiality or other legitimate restrictions, authors should state the applicable restriction.
JSCET encourages appropriate research transparency and reproducibility consistent with the requirements of the relevant discipline.
8. Generative Artificial Intelligence
JSCET recognises that generative artificial intelligence tools may assist authors, reviewers and editors. Their use must not compromise research integrity, confidentiality, intellectual property or human accountability.
Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of their manuscripts.
Generative AI tools must not be used to:
- fabricate or falsify data or results;
- generate misleading research evidence;
- create fabricated references;
- conceal plagiarism or other misconduct; or
- replace the authors’ responsibility for the scholarly content of the manuscript.
AI tools must not be listed as authors.
Where generative AI has been used in manuscript preparation, authors must comply with the JSCET Generative AI Policy and provide the required declaration.
Editors and reviewers must protect the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and should not upload confidential or unpublished manuscript content into external AI systems where this could compromise confidentiality or intellectual property.
Publication Malpractice
JSCET takes suspected publication malpractice and research misconduct seriously. Concerns may arise before or after publication and may be raised by authors, reviewers, editors, readers or other parties.
When a credible concern is identified, the journal will assess the available information and determine whether further action is required. Depending on the nature of the concern, the journal may request clarification or supporting evidence, seek appropriate advice or refer the matter to the relevant institution or authority.
1. Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the use of another person’s words, ideas, data, images or other intellectual work without appropriate acknowledgement.
Submitted manuscripts may be screened using appropriate similarity detection software. A similarity percentage alone does not establish plagiarism. The editorial team will consider the nature, extent and context of identified similarities.
Where plagiarism is established, the journal may reject the manuscript and take further appropriate action depending on the circumstances.
Detailed procedures concerning plagiarism are provided in the JSCET Plagiarism Policy.
2. Fabrication and Falsification
Fabrication is the creation of data, results, participants or research information that did not exist.
Falsification includes manipulating research materials, data, procedures, images or results in a manner that misrepresents the research.
Where credible concerns regarding fabrication or falsification arise, JSCET may request supporting evidence and investigate the matter appropriately.
3. Duplicate and Redundant Publication
Authors must not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal.
Authors should disclose previous publications or submissions containing substantially overlapping material.
Where duplicate or redundant publication is identified, JSCET may reject the manuscript or take appropriate action if the material has already been published.
4. Authorship Misconduct
Authorship must accurately reflect substantial contributions to the research and manuscript.
JSCET does not support:
- guest or honorary authorship;
- gift authorship;
- ghost authorship;
- omission of individuals who made substantial contributions; or
- unauthorised changes to the author list.
Any change to authorship after submission must be justified and agreed by all affected authors before it is considered by the journal.
Authors should use the Authors’ Contributions statement to identify individual contributions where required by the journal.
5. Citation Manipulation
Citations must have a legitimate scholarly purpose.
JSCET does not permit:
- coercive citation;
- excessive irrelevant self citation;
- coordinated citation intended to artificially increase citation counts; or
- requests to cite JSCET, editors or reviewers without genuine scholarly relevance.
6. Peer Review Manipulation
JSCET does not permit manipulation of the peer review process, including:
- providing false reviewer identities or contact information;
- impersonating reviewers;
- submitting fraudulent review reports;
- attempting to improperly influence reviewers; or
- interfering with the confidentiality or independence of peer review.
Where peer review manipulation is suspected, the journal may suspend the editorial process and conduct an appropriate assessment.
7. Misuse of Confidential Information
Authors, reviewers and editors must not use confidential or unpublished information obtained through the submission or peer review process for personal, academic or commercial advantage.
Reviewers must not share, copy or distribute submitted manuscripts or their contents without appropriate permission from the editor.
Handling of Ethical Concerns
JSCET will assess credible concerns relating to research integrity or publication malpractice based on the available evidence and the circumstances of each case.
Depending on the nature and seriousness of the concern, the journal may:
- request clarification or supporting documentation;
- seek information from the relevant authors, reviewers or editors;
- obtain independent advice where appropriate;
- refer the matter to the relevant institution or authority where necessary;
- suspend the editorial process while the concern is being assessed; or
- take appropriate editorial action based on the outcome of the assessment.
The journal will seek to handle ethical concerns fairly, confidentially and consistently with relevant publication ethics principles.
Where an investigation involves an author’s institution or another responsible authority, JSCET may cooperate with that body as appropriate.
Separate JSCET Policies
This statement provides the overarching framework for JSCET’s publication ethics and malpractice practices. Detailed procedures are provided in the journal’s related policies, including:
- Peer Review Policy
- Plagiarism Policy
- Conflict of Interest Policy
- Generative AI Policy
- Declaration on Human and Animal Rights
- Corrections, Retractions and Editorial Complaints Policy
- Copyright and Licensing Policy
These policies should be read together with this statement. They provide the specific procedures applicable to particular ethical, editorial and post publication matters.
JSCET does not repeat those procedures in this statement in order to maintain a clear distinction between the journal’s overarching publication ethics principles and the procedures established under individual policies.
Publisher Responsibilities
The publisher supports JSCET in maintaining appropriate standards of editorial and publication practice.
The publisher shall:
- support editorial independence;
- provide appropriate systems for manuscript submission, peer review and publication;
- support the editorial team in addressing credible publication ethics concerns;
- support appropriate action where the integrity of the published record is affected;
- maintain appropriate copyright and licensing arrangements; and
- support the accessibility, preservation and integrity of published content.
The publisher shall not improperly influence editorial decisions.
