1. REVIEWER GUIDE

JICIVILTECH aims to publish original and impactful research. We invite our reviewers to assist us in maintaining the highest academic standards through a rigorous double-blind peer-review model based on COPE Principles.

Selection of Reviewers

Reviewers are selected among experts who hold a Ph.D. degree in the relevant field and have a strong publication record. Experts from Turkish universities are identified via the YÖK Academic database, while international experts are sourced through Web of Science/Publons.

Duties and Responsibilities of Reviewers

1. Objectivity: Reviews must be conducted objectively. Reviewers should be aware of personal biases and express their judgments clearly with supporting scientific evidence.
2. Editorial Contribution: Peer review assists the Editor in making editorial decisions and helps authors improve their work. Reviewers who feel unqualified or cannot complete the task within 30-45 days must decline the invitation promptly.
3. Confidentiality: All manuscripts are confidential documents. Reviewers must not share information or communicate directly with authors. Privileged ideas obtained through peer review must not be used for personal gain.
4. Ethical Awareness: Reviewers should alert the Editor to potential ethical issues (plagiarism, data fabrication, or dual publication).
5. Conflict of Interest: Reviewers must decline manuscripts where a conflict of interest exists arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with the authors or institutions.
6. Citation Policy: Reviewers should not request citations to their own work solely to increase citation counts; requests must be based on genuine scientific necessity.

How to Conduct a Review (Evaluation Criteria)

Reviewers are expected to evaluate the manuscript by considering the following:

• Does the article contain new and significant information?
• Does the abstract clearly and accurately describe the content?
• Is the methodology described in a coherent and understandable manner?
• Are the interpretations and conclusions substantiated by the findings?
• Are adequate references given to other studies in the field?
• Is the language quality and academic tone adequate?

2. EDITOR’S GUIDE

Selection of Editors

Editors and Editorial Board members are selected among prominent experts holding a Ph.D. degree with a significant publication record in civil engineering, architecture, and technology.

Duties and Responsibilities of the Editor

1. Coordinating the Review Process: The Editor ensures a fair, impartial, and timely review process. Each research article must be reviewed by at least two external reviewers.
2. Identification of Reviewers: The Editor selects reviewers with appropriate expertise, ensuring diverse representation and following best practices to avoid fraudulent reviewers.
3. Confidentiality: The Editor must protect the identity of reviewers and the confidentiality of all submitted materials. Information must not be used for the Editor's personal research without author permission.
4. Impartiality: Manuscripts are evaluated solely on intellectual content, regardless of the authors' race, gender, religious beliefs, ethnicity, or political philosophy.
5. Investigation of Misconduct: Editors must investigate ethical violations following COPE Flowcharts and may issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary.
6. Conflict of Interest: Editors shall not be involved in decisions regarding manuscripts written by themselves or family members.
7. Publication Decision: The Editor is responsible for analyzing reviewer reports and making the final decision based on the policies set by the Editorial Board.
8. Citation Policy: Editors will not request citations to their journal or any other journal except for scientific reasons, to avoid artificial inflation of metrics.