Submissions

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Author Guidelines

1. Types of Submissions

IJBEGS welcomes original, high-quality manuscripts in all areas related to the built environment and geospatial sciences, including (but not limited to) urban planning, urban design, architecture, transportation, infrastructure, GIS, remote sensing, geomatics, spatial data science, and smart cities.

The following manuscript types are accepted:
1.1 Original Research Articles

  • Full-length papers reporting original empirical, methodological, or theoretical research.
  • Typical applications include: GIS-based modelling, spatial statistics, infrastructure assessment, urban simulation, remote sensing analysis, policy evaluation, etc.
  • Recommended length: up to 7,000 words (excluding abstract, references, and tables/figures).
  • References: generally 25–40.

1.2 Review Articles

  • Critical and integrative reviews of the literature on topics of broad relevance (e.g., GeoAI in planning, UHI mapping methods, resilience metrics, digital twins for cities).
  • Should synthesize existing knowledge, identify gaps, and propose future research agendas.
  • Recommended length: up to 8,000 words (excluding abstract).
  • Up to 6 figures/tables, and up to 120 references.

1.3 Technical Notes and Methodological Papers

  • Focused contributions presenting new tools, models, algorithms, datasets, or workflows (e.g., new network metrics, 3D GIS tools, or decision-support frameworks).
  • Recommended length: up to 3,500 words.
  • Typically 2–4 figures/tables and up to 30 references.

1.4 Short Communications

  • Concise reports of significant, time-sensitive findings, such as emerging patterns from new data, pilot applications of methods, or preliminary but impactful insights.
  • Maximum length: 2,500 words, with up to 2 figures/tables and 20 references.

1.5 Case Studies and Practice Notes

  • Well-documented case applications (e.g., city-scale GIS implementation, resilience assessments, policy pilots, planning support tools) with clear lessons for practice.
  • Recommended length: up to 4,000 words, 3 figures/tables, and up to 30 references.

1.6 Editorials and Viewpoints

  • Typically invited, these are short essays on pressing issues, policy debates, or conceptual discussions.
  • Length: usually 1,000–1,500 words.

 

2. Manuscript Preparation

2.1 Cover Letter

Each submission must be accompanied by a cover letter signed by the corresponding author, confirming:

  • The manuscript is original, not previously published, and not under review elsewhere.
  • All authors have approved the submission and listed authorship appropriately.
  • Any funding sources and conflicts of interest are disclosed.

Where required, the letter should mention ethical approval (e.g., for human subjects, survey data, or proprietary datasets).

2.2 Title Page

Include:

  • Concise and informative title (ideally not exceeding two printed lines).
  • Full names of all authors.
  • Affiliations: department, institution, city, country.
  • ORCID iD for each author is strongly encouraged.
  • Name, affiliation, postal address, and email of the corresponding author.

2.3 Abstract and Keywords

  • Provide an abstract of no more than 250–300 words, structured as:
    • Background/Objective
    • Methods (including data sources, tools, and study area, where relevant)
    • Results (key quantitative or qualitative findings)
    • Conclusions/Implications
  • Do not include references in the abstract.
  • Add 3–6 keywords, including at least one that reflects the geospatial method or built-environment theme (e.g., GIS, remote sensing, urban resilience, accessibility).

2.4 Main Text Structure

For Original Research Articles, a typical structure is:

  1. Introduction
    • Problem statement, objectives, and contribution to literature and practice.
  2. Literature Review 
    • Description of the literature review and data sources.
  3. Methods
    • Methodological design, tools (GIS software, remote sensing platforms, modelling frameworks), indicators, and analytical techniques.
  4. Results
    • Clear presentation of findings with appropriate maps, graphs, and tables.
  5. Discussion
    • Interpretation of results, comparison with literature, limitations, and policy/practice implications.
  6. Conclusion
    • Summary of key insights and directions for future research.
  7. Acknowledgements (if any)
  8. Conflict of Interest Statement
  9. Funding Statement (where applicable)
  10. Ethics and Data Availability Statements (where applicable)

2.5 Formatting recommendations:

  • Font: e.g., Times New Roman.
  • Font size: 12 pt.
  • Line spacing: 1.
  • Number pages and use clear headings and sub-headings.

2.6 References Style:

Authors should follow A7A referencing style as follows:

      (A) Journal articles

      Author, A. A., Author, B. B., & Author, C. C. (Year). Title of the article. Title of the Journal,      
      Volume(Issue), page–page. https://doi.org/DOI

      (B) Books

      Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the book (Edition if not first). Publisher.

      (C) Book chapters

      Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the chapter.
      In E. E. Editor & F. F. Editor (Eds.), Title of the book (pp. xxx–xxx). Publisher.

      (D) Conference papers (published in proceedings)

      Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Year). Title of the paper. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of the
      proceedings (pp. xxx–xxx). Publisher. https://doi.org/DOI (if available)

      (E) Conference papers (online, without formal proceedings)

      Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of the paper. Title of the conference, Conference location.
      URL

      (F) Theses and dissertations

      Author, A. A. (Year). Title of the thesis (Publication No. xxxx) [Type of thesis, Awarding
      institution]. Database or Repository Name. URL

      (If unpublished, omit publication number and database.)

      (G) Reports, standards, and institutional documents

      Author or Organization Name. (Year). Title of the report (Report No. xxx). Publisher or
      Organization. URL (if available)

      (H) Webpages and online resources

      Use stable, official, or institutional websites; avoid non-scholarly sources unless clearly justified.
      Author or Organization Name. (Year, Month Day). Title of the webpage. Website Name. URL

      Non-English References

  • Non-English references are allowed, especially for local regulations, national reports, or theses.
  • Provide the title in the original language, followed by an English translation in square brackets.

2.7 Tables, Figures, and Maps

  • All tables, figures, and maps must be cited in the text.
  • Provide informative titles and legends, including units and data sources.
  • Maps and spatial figures should include:
    • Scale bar
    • North arrow
    • Projection information (if relevant)
    • Clear symbology and readable labels
  • Minimum resolution: 300 dpi (TIFF, PNG, or JPEG).
  • Avoid overcrowded maps; use multiple figures if needed.


3. Post-Acceptance and Production

Once accepted:

  1. The manuscript will be copy-edited and typeset according to IJBEGS style.
  2. The corresponding author will receive proofs for final checking of:
    • Text and figures
    • Author names and affiliations
    • Acknowledgements and funding statements

Only minor corrections are allowed at this stage.
After approval, the article will be published online in the upcoming issue.