About the Journal

Objectives

The International Journal of the Built Environment and Geospatial Sciences (IJBEGS) seeks to become a leading reference in its field through the following objectives:

  1. Publishing High-Quality Scientific Research
    IJBEGS publishes original research articles, review papers, technical notes, and case studies that advance theory, methods, and practice in the built environment and geospatial sciences. The journal encourages work with clear methodological robustness, solid data foundations, and practical implications for planning and policy.
  2. Promoting Interdisciplinary Dialogue
    The journal serves as a forum for urban planners, architects, engineers, geographers, geomatics experts, data scientists, and policy makers to exchange ideas and foster interdisciplinary collaboration. It welcomes studies that integrate spatial analytics with social, economic, environmental, and technological dimensions.
  3. Localizing and Transferring Global Knowledge
    IJBEGS aims to connect global geospatial and built-environment innovations with national and regional priorities, especially in contexts like Saudi Arabia and the wider Middle East. Comparative and applied research that adapts global methods to local conditions is particularly encouraged.
  4. Supporting Evidence-Based Policy and Practice
    By publishing policy-relevant analyses, evaluation frameworks, and decision-support tools, IJBEGS contributes to evidence-based planning, infrastructure investment, and urban governance at municipal, regional, and national scales.

Publishing Rules and Editorial Policy

To ensure scientific rigor, ethical integrity, and editorial transparency, IJBEGS adopts the following principles:

Publication Frequency

  • The journal is planned to be issued periodically (twice per year).
  • The Editorial Board may introduce special issues on key themes (e.g., smart cities, climate resilience, GeoAI, coastal cities) as the journal develops.

Peer-Review Process

  • All submissions undergo double-blind peer review.
  • Each manuscript is evaluated by at least two expert reviewers for:
    • Originality and relevance
    • Scientific and methodological quality
    • Clarity of analysis and presentation
    • Contribution to knowledge and practice

The Editorial Board may reject submissions that do not meet the journal’s standards before external review (desk rejection).

Originality and Ethical Compliance

  • Manuscripts must be original, not previously published, and not under consideration elsewhere.
  • Authors must comply with international research ethics, including:
    • Proper treatment of human subjects, if surveys, interviews, or human data are used
    • Ethical handling of geospatial and sensitive data (e.g., privacy, data protection)
    • Full and transparent acknowledgement of data sources and funding

Plagiarism, duplicate publication, and unethical use of data are strictly prohibited.

Special Issues

  • IJBEGS may publish special issues focused on:
    • National or regional initiatives (e.g., Vision 2030-aligned projects)
    • Emerging methods (GeoAI, digital twins, 3D/4D GIS)
    • Priority themes in sustainable urban development
  • Proposals for guest-edited special issues are welcome and will be evaluated by the Editor-in-Chief.

Language of Submission

  • The journal accepts manuscripts in English.
  • Where needed, authors are encouraged to ensure professional language editing prior to submission.

Reference Style

  • References must follow the Vancouver style (numbered citations).
  • Citations in the text should appear as [1], [2,3], [4–6], and references should be listed at the end of the manuscript in order of citation.

Layout and Ordering of Materials

  • The order of articles within each issue and the final layout are determined by the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Office, based on editorial priorities and technical considerations, independently of authors’ seniority or affiliation.

Commitment and Community

Commitment to Excellence
IJBEGS is committed to continuous improvement in editorial processes, peer-review quality, and international visibility, with the aim of being indexed in major databases as the journal matures.

Building a Scholarly Community
The journal invites researchers, practitioners, students, planners, engineers, and decision-makers to contribute as authors, reviewers, and readers. Your participation will help shape IJBEGS into a central hub for built environment and geospatial scholarship.