Publication ethics

Publication ethics and editorial policy

The editorial board of the journal “Modern Technologies and Methods of Calculations in Construction” operates in accordance with the principles of transparency, objectivity, academic integrity, and international standards of scholarly communication. All editorial processes are aimed at ensuring quality, protecting authors’ rights, and complying with the requirements of leading international professional organizations, including COPE and the ethical guidelines of Elsevier PERK.

1. Principles of responsible editorial practice

The editorial board ensures fair and unbiased treatment of all authors, supports professional dialogue, and guarantees that no materials are published without thorough evaluation.

The journal adheres to the general principles of WAME (World Association of Medical Editors) regarding editorial independence and responsibility. All decisions on manuscript acceptance are based solely on scientific novelty, reliability of data, and technical relevance of the material. The editorial policy is free from any commercial or political influence. Particular attention is paid to the accuracy of calculations, modelling methods, and the verification of experimental research results in the field of construction and civil engineering.

The editorial board supports the global initiative to improve research assessment practices in line with DORA (San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment). The journal emphasizes that the value of scientific work is determined by its intrinsic quality and its real practical contribution to the development of the field, rather than solely by journal-level metrics. The journal encourages the use of a broad range of impact indicators, including citations in patent documentation and national building regulations, and aims for each publication to serve as a reliable foundation for safe and innovative construction.

Editors are obliged to:

  • maintain confidentiality and not disclose any manuscript data;
  • not modify the text without the author’s consent;
  • prevent plagiarism, duplication, or publication of materials with questionable scientific quality.

The editorial board operates in accordance with the principle of blind peer review and engages qualified, independent experts.

2. Principles of academic peer review

Reviewers contribute to maintaining the scientific quality of the journal and:

  • provide objective and professional evaluations;
  • adhere to established review deadlines;
  • do not share manuscripts with third parties;
  • refrain from using any results from the manuscript;
  • inform the editorial board if the manuscript falls outside their area of expertise or if there is suspicion of ethical misconduct.
  • In the event of a conflict of interest, the reviewer must inform the editorial board and decline to evaluate the manuscript.

3. Author responsibilities

Authors ensure the intellectual integrity of their research. They are required to:

  • submit results that are original, reliable, and novel;
  • properly cite all borrowed materials;
  • avoid self-plagiarism and mutual plagiarism;
  • not submit the manuscript to other journals simultaneously;
  • inform the editorial board of any significant errors identified after publication.

Authors agree that, after acceptance, the article may be included in the journal’s electronic databases with mandatory attribution of authorship.

4. Ethical requirements for research involving human participants

Research involving surveys, interviews, or experiments with human participants must comply with international ethical standards and be approved by a relevant ethics committee or Institutional Review Board (IRB). Authors must confirm:

  • voluntary participation of respondents, supported by informed written consent;
  • compliance with principles of confidentiality, anonymity, and safety.

It is recommended to refer to documents such as ASA (1997), EU Ethics and Data Protection (2021), and the ICC/ESOMAR Code (2025).

If ethical approval is not required, authors must provide a justified legal or institutional explanation.

5. Handling of disputes and ethical concerns

The editorial board is authorized to investigate:

  • violations of copyright;
  • unethical research practices;
  • disputes related to data or methodology;
  • complaints from readers, reviewers, or other parties.

If serious violations are confirmed, the editorial board may issue corrections, publish notices, or retract the article. Decisions are communicated to readers where necessary.

6. Authorship policy

All co-authors must confirm that they:

  • contributed to the study design, data collection, or analysis;
  • participated in drafting or substantially revising the manuscript;
  • approved the final version of the manuscript;
  • agree to take responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work.

Individuals whose contributions do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the “Acknowledgements” section.

7. Submission principles

Submission of a manuscript implies that:

  • it has not been previously published;
  • it is not under consideration by another journal;
  • all authors have approved its submission;
  • it will not be duplicated in another form after acceptance.

8. Data sharing policy

The journal supports openness of scientific results while respecting authors’ rights. Primary data may be provided upon request through the editorial board. Access is granted only with the author’s consent. Confidential, legally restricted, or sensitive data may be unavailable.

All requests must be submitted via the journal’s official email address.

9. Funding disclosure

Authors must clearly indicate all sources of support, including:

  • grant programs;
  • governmental or non-governmental organizations;
  • commercial entities;
  • institutional funding.

If no funding was received, authors should state: “This research received no external funding” in the relevant section of the article.

10. Confidentiality policy

The journal ensures full confidentiality of all materials submitted by authors. Manuscripts, data, and the identities of authors and reviewers are treated as confidential information and are not disclosed to third parties, except those directly involved in the editorial process. Unpublished materials are not used by editors or reviewers for their own research. All electronic files and communications are stored and transmitted through secure channels, ensuring the protection of personal data and copyright.