Journal of Sustainable Civil Engineering and Technology (JSCET)

1. Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies to support manuscript preparation including language improvement, grammar, readability, translation and organization.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity and final content of their manuscripts. The use of AI must not replace the authors’ intellectual contribution, scholarly judgment or responsibility for the work.

AI must not be used to fabricate or falsify research data, results, references, citations, images or other scholarly content.

AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors. Authorship remains the responsibility of human contributors who meet the journal’s authorship requirements.

2. Disclosure of AI Use

Authors must disclose the use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies when such use makes a substantive contribution to the preparation, analysis or content of a manuscript.

The disclosure should identify the AI tool used and describe how it was used. Authors must review and verify all AI-assisted content before submission and remain fully responsible for the final manuscript.

Routine use of AI for spelling, grammar, punctuation or basic language improvement does not normally require disclosure.

When AI is used as part of the research methodology including data analysis, coding, modelling, classification or other research procedures, its use must be described in the relevant Methods or Methodology section.

Where disclosure is required authors may use the following statement:

The authors disclose that generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used to assist with the [describe purpose]. The authors reviewed and verified the AI-assisted content and remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality and integrity of the final manuscript.

3. Accuracy and Research Integrity

AI-generated content may contain inaccurate information, fabricated references, bias or other errors. Authors must critically evaluate and independently verify AI-generated or AI-assisted content before submission.

Authors must ensure that the use of AI does not result in:

• plagiarism or unattributed use of published material
• fabrication or falsification of research
• inaccurate or misleading scholarly claims
• fabricated references or citations
• inappropriate manipulation of research data or images
• violation of confidentiality, privacy or intellectual property rights
• any other breach of research or publication ethics

The use of AI does not transfer responsibility from the authors to the AI tool or its provider.

4. AI-Generated Images, Data and Other Materials

Authors are responsible for the accuracy, originality and appropriate attribution of all images, figures, tables, data and other materials submitted to JSCET.

AI must not be used to fabricate, falsify or misleadingly manipulate research data, results, evidence or images.

Any substantive use of AI to generate or modify research content must be disclosed. Authors must also comply with applicable copyright, licensing and intellectual property requirements.

5. Use of AI by Reviewers

Reviewers must maintain the confidentiality and integrity of the peer review process.

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports or other confidential peer review materials to publicly accessible generative AI tools or services where confidentiality cannot be assured.

AI must not replace the reviewer’s independent scholarly assessment or judgment. Reviewers remain responsible for the accuracy, fairness and confidentiality of their review reports.

Reviewers should inform the Editor-in-Chief of any suspected plagiarism, fabrication, falsification or other ethical concern identified during the review process.

6. Use of AI by Editors and Editorial Team Members

Editors and editorial team members must maintain the confidentiality, independence and integrity of the editorial process.

AI must not replace human editorial judgment in decisions concerning manuscript evaluation, peer review, revision, acceptance, rejection, correction or retraction.

Editors and editorial team members must not upload submitted manuscripts, reviewer reports or other confidential editorial materials to publicly accessible generative AI tools or services where confidentiality cannot be assured.

Editors remain accountable for editorial decisions and must ensure that the use of AI does not compromise confidential information, intellectual property or the rights of authors and reviewers.

7. Ethical Compliance and Editorial Action

JSCET considers responsible and transparent use of AI an integral part of research integrity and publication ethics.

Suspected inappropriate, misleading or undisclosed use of AI may be investigated in accordance with the journal’s Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement, Peer Review Policy, Plagiarism Policy, Conflict of Interest Policy and Corrections, Retractions and Editorial Complaints Policy.

Where necessary JSCET may request clarification, disclosure or supporting information from authors, reviewers or editorial team members. The journal may take appropriate editorial action when AI use results in research or publication misconduct.

8. Policy Review

JSCET will periodically review this policy to reflect developments in AI technologies, scholarly publishing practices, research integrity and relevant guidance from the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and other recognized scholarly publishing organizations.