At the Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE), we are committed to upholding the utmost standards of integrity, openness, and professionalism in scholarly publishing. This ethics policy lays the groundwork for promoting trust, responsibility, and academic excellence within the research community.

Our dedication to ethical publishing ensures that editors, authors, and reviewers observe widely accepted standards and practices. This policy outlines the main duties and expectations for all parties engaged in the publication process.

• Substantial Contributions: Played a key role in the study’s design, methodology, data processing, or result interpretation.
• Drafting and Revising: Contributed to writing the manuscript or revising it critically for intellectual content.
• Final Approval: Reviewed and approved the final manuscript version, including all changes.
• Accountability: Accepted responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the work and for addressing any concerns that may emerge.

• Justification: A thorough explanation for the change.
• Consent: Written approval from all authors, including those impacted by the modification.

• Communication: Acting as the main contact between the journal and all co-authors, and ensuring co-authors are updated on the manuscript’s status.
• Approval: Confirming that all co-authors have reviewed and agreed to the manuscript prior to submission.
• Compliance: Ensuring the submission complies with the journal’s ethical and formatting requirements.

• Accuracy: Make sure citations are precisely formatted and match the intended sources.
• Balance: Present a well-rounded view of existing research without giving undue prominence to specific authors or journals.
• Self-Citation: Avoid overuse of self-citations that could distort academic metrics or visibility.

• Overusing self-citations to artificially boost citation statistics.
• Coordinated citation pacts between individuals or groups to mutually cite each other’s work inappropriately.
• Including unrelated references that do not meaningfully support the manuscript.

• Financial Support: Any grants, sponsorships, or funding received related to the research or preparation of the manuscript.
• Institutional Relationships: Connections with institutions that may gain from the article’s publication.
• Competing Interests: Any interest that might compromise the objectivity of the work.

• Personal or collaborative relationships with the authors.
• Financial ties to the manuscript’s outcomes.
• Any professional affiliations that might introduce bias.

• Affiliations with authors, reviewers, or their institutions.
• Financial or professional stakes in the subject matter of the submission.

• Minor inaccuracies in graphical representations.
• Missing details regarding funding or acknowledgments.
• Undisclosed conflicts of interest.

• Corrigendum: Issued when the authors identify errors in their published work.
• Erratum: Issued when the publisher is responsible for the mistake.

• Breaches of ethics, such as unapproved research involving human or animal subjects.
• Fabrication or falsification of data.
• Plagiarized content.
• Repetitive or redundant publication of the same findings.

• The retraction will be linked to the original publication and vice versa.
• The original article will be labeled as “Retracted” in both HTML and PDF formats.
• The reason for retraction will be clearly explained.
• The initiator of the retraction (author, editor, institution) will be identified.

• Ongoing investigations into potential research misconduct.
• Complex ethical concerns requiring extended review.

• If the subject is under 18 years of age, consent must be obtained from a parent or guardian.
• When the individual is deceased, consent should come from the next of kin.
• The manuscript must include a confirmation statement that consent for publication was acquired.

• A declaration stating that access to the content will be public and unrestricted.
• Clarification about the publication license in use.

• Avoid sharing or discussing any manuscript content with individuals not involved in the review.
• Not use unpublished data, interpretations, or concepts obtained through the review for personal or professional gain.

• Misalignment with Scope: The manuscript's topic or content does not correspond with the focus or domain of the journal.
• Ethical Concerns: The manuscript breaches ethical principles, has plagiarism exceeding a 20% similarity index, or includes other ethical violations.
• Insufficient Impact: The paper does not present significant contributions, lacks valuable insights, or does not enhance the field’s knowledge base.
• Flawed Study Design: The methodology is fundamentally defective, thereby undermining the study's conclusions.
• Unclear Objectives: The study’s aims are either not clearly stated or are poorly defined.
• Poor Presentation: The manuscript lacks structure, misses crucial sections, or is not clearly written.
• Grammar and Language Issues: The text contains numerous grammatical problems, stylistic inconsistencies, or has poor readability.
• Non-Compliance with Guidelines: The submission does not conform to the journal’s formatting and submission instructions.

• Submitting the same manuscript to more than one journal at the same time.
• Reusing substantial parts of a previously published paper without proper citation or acknowledgment (self-plagiarism).
• Publishing the same findings in multiple papers with minimal variation in content or analysis.

• Multiple Submissions: Manuscripts submitted to MJCE while also under review elsewhere.
• Redundant Publications: Manuscripts that replicate already published work without offering substantial new contributions.
• Translation of Published Work: Manuscripts previously released in another language without appropriate disclosure.

• Secure explicit authorization from the publisher and copyright holder of the original work.
• Notify the Editor of MJCE about the previous publication.

• Detailed Disclosure: Authors should list all funding bodies, grant IDs, and specify the funder's role, if any, in the study’s lifecycle.
• Sponsor Involvement: Authors must disclose if sponsors influenced the design, analysis, data interpretation, or publication. If not involved, this should be clearly noted.

• Limit modifications and ensure consistent application across all images.
• Be ready to provide unedited original images to the editorial board when requested.
• Refrain from any image editing that might lead to misinterpretation of the scientific data.

• Plagiarism: Using another person’s work or ideas without proper acknowledgment.
• Fabrication: Inventing data or findings and presenting them as genuine.
• Falsification: Changing research instruments, data, or processes to distort the research outcome.
• Duplicate Submission: Sending the same manuscript to more than one journal at once.
• Misrepresentation: Incorrectly stating author contributions or institutional affiliations.
• Image Manipulation: Altering visual content in ways that could mislead readers.

• Initial Assessment: The editorial board evaluates the allegation and supporting documentation.
• Investigation: A detailed investigation is carried out, potentially involving the author(s), peer reviewers, or external consultants.
• Outcome: Based on the results, actions may include manuscript rejection, article withdrawal, or institutional notification.

• Reject the manuscript during peer review.
• Retract already published content with a public notice explaining the reason.
• Inform the authors’ affiliated institutions or financial sponsors.
• Enforce a publication ban against the involved authors.

Publication Ethics

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) upholds the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal’s ethical policies align with the guidelines provided by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), supporting a publication process that is equitable, transparent, and accountable.

Responsibilities of Editors

Publication Decisions:
The editorial team bears full responsibility for selecting manuscripts to be published. These decisions are guided by peer reviewer evaluations and compliance with applicable legal and ethical norms, including matters concerning defamation, copyright violations, and plagiarism.

Confidentiality, Disclosure, and Conflicts of Interest:
Editors are required to maintain strict confidentiality throughout the review process, limiting access to manuscript content to the corresponding author, assigned reviewers, prospective reviewers, and editorial consultants. Editors must also submit the Conflict of Interest Form designated for Editorial Board Members to maintain transparency and uphold ethical practices.
Unpublished data or materials from submitted manuscripts must not be utilized in any editor’s, reviewer’s, or reader’s own work unless written consent has been explicitly obtained from the manuscript’s author.
Editors must also ensure that all funding sources related to the study and their roles in the research or publication process are clearly disclosed to readers.

Author Relations:
Editors must support respectful and equitable interactions with authors, offering detailed, constructive critiques that facilitate revisions and uphold the accuracy and scholarly quality of all published manuscripts.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Contribution to Editorial Decisions:
Reviewers provide critical input that aids the editorial board in reaching publication decisions. Their evaluations should be impartial, well-structured, and grounded in coherent reasoning.

Reviewer Competency:
Reviewers are expected to accept only those manuscripts for review that align with their expertise. Should a reviewer feel unqualified or foresee delays in completing a review, they must promptly inform the editor and decline the assignment.

Confidentiality:
All manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. Any proprietary content or insights gained during the peer review process must not be exploited for personal benefit or disclosed to others without authorization.

Acknowledgment of Sources:
It is the reviewer’s duty to identify and recommend pertinent academic references that may have been missed by the authors and to suggest citations where necessary for ideas or material not properly credited.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest:
To promote ethical integrity, reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest by completing the Conflict of Interest Form for Reviewers.

Responsibilities of Authors

Reporting Standards:
Authors are expected to present a truthful and thorough report of the work undertaken, accompanied by an impartial interpretation of its importance.

Originality, Plagiarism, and Simultaneous Submission:
It is essential that submitted work is wholly original. Authors must give proper attribution to all sources whose concepts or language have influenced the manuscript.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest:
Authors must reveal any potential financial or substantive conflicts that might have impacted the research findings or their interpretation. As part of this obligation, authors are required to submit a completed Conflict of Interest Form along with their manuscript.

Authorship Attribution:
The corresponding author is tasked with verifying that all individuals who have contributed significantly to the manuscript are listed as co-authors and that those who do not meet authorship criteria are not included.

Significant Errors in Published Work:
Should an author become aware of a critical mistake or inaccuracy in their published article, they are obligated to immediately inform the editor and work cooperatively to issue a correction or retraction.

Peer Review Process

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) employs a strict and structured peer review process aimed at safeguarding the scholarly quality and integrity of its publications. This review framework is founded on ethical principles that emphasize fairness, transparency, and academic rigor.

Initial Assessment

Each manuscript submitted to MJCE undergoes a preliminary evaluation by the editorial team to assess its relevance to the journal's thematic focus, originality, and compliance with the submission requirements. Manuscripts failing to meet these preliminary standards are rejected at the desk review stage without entering the peer review process.

Single-Blind Peer Review

MJCE utilizes a single-blind peer review model in which reviewers remain anonymous, while authors' identities are visible. This setup allows reviewers to provide candid and unbiased assessments.

Every manuscript is typically evaluated by at least two subject matter experts, who assess the submission's originality, research methodology, academic contribution, and overall quality. Reviewers are expected to deliver thoughtful, constructive feedback and suggestions for improvement.

Editorial Decision

Upon receiving reviewers' evaluations, the editor determines one of the following outcomes:

• Accept: The manuscript is approved for publication with no changes or minor adjustments.

• Revise: The manuscript requires either significant or minor revisions prior to further consideration.

• Reject: The submission is not suitable for publication in MJCE.

The editorial office communicates the final decision and the reviewers’ comments to the corresponding author, maintaining transparency throughout the process.

Appeals Process

Authors retain the right to appeal an editorial decision by submitting a detailed rebuttal addressing reviewers' critiques or providing additional supporting evidence. Appeals are considered by the editorial board or, if necessary, additional reviewers. The author will be notified of the final decision after thorough reassessment.

For appeal submissions, please contact: appeals@mesopotamian.press

Plagiarism Policy

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) enforces a zero-tolerance stance on plagiarism in any form. Plagiarism encompasses the unauthorized use of another person’s intellectual output—whether ideas, language, or data—without appropriate citation. This policy also extends to self-plagiarism and duplicate submissions.

Plagiarism Detection

All manuscript submissions to MJCE undergo rigorous screening using advanced plagiarism detection software such as Turnitin. Any submission showing substantial similarity to existing literature or previously published work will be immediately declined.

Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring the originality of their manuscripts before submission. Proper referencing and citation practices are essential to prevent unintended plagiarism.

Types of Plagiarism

• Complete Plagiarism: Replicating another person’s work word-for-word without credit or citation.

• Partial Plagiarism: Modifying or paraphrasing another’s work without proper acknowledgment.

• Self-Plagiarism: Reusing one's own previously published content without disclosure or citation.

• Text Recycling: Reusing segments of previously published writing in multiple works without acknowledgment.

Consequences of Plagiarism

Manuscripts identified as containing plagiarism—either pre- or post-publication—will be subject to the following actions:

• Immediate rejection or retraction of the article.

• Notification of the misconduct to the author’s affiliated institution or funding organization.

• Placement of the author(s) on a blacklist, prohibiting future submissions to MJCE.

All cases are handled according to the ethical framework established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Preprint Policy

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) supports the dissemination of research through preprint servers. Authors are permitted to upload their manuscripts to recognized preprint repositories such as arXiv or RePEc at any point prior to official submission to MJCE.

Linking Preprints to Published Articles

Once a manuscript is formally accepted and published by MJCE, authors are encouraged to associate the preprint version with the final publication using its Digital Object Identifier (DOI). This ensures broader visibility and directs readers to the definitive, peer-reviewed version.

Authors may also revise the preprint to reflect the accepted manuscript, as long as the MJCE publication is clearly acknowledged.

Transparency and Integrity

By endorsing preprint usage, MJCE promotes rapid dissemination of research findings while safeguarding the credibility of formal publication. Authors must ensure that their preprint submissions faithfully represent the research and follow all ethical publishing guidelines.

Preprints must not misstate the study or create misconceptions. Any major revisions or updates should be promptly reflected in the preprint repository.

This policy balances openness in research communication with the integrity and reliability expected during the peer review and publication lifecycle.

Patient Identifying Information

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) places high importance on safeguarding patient confidentiality and privacy. Any identifiable information—whether textual descriptions, images, videos, sonograms, or family pedigrees—should only be included in a manuscript if it is essential for the scientific purpose and written informed consent has been appropriately secured.

Consent Requirements

Authors must obtain written informed consent from the patient or, when applicable, from their legal representative—such as a parent or guardian in the case of minors or incapacitated individuals. If the subject is deceased, permission must be obtained from the nearest living relative or legally authorized representative.

It is the authors’ responsibility to ensure that no identifying details such as patient names, initials, or hospital identification numbers appear in the manuscript or associated images, unless absolutely necessary and explicitly consented to.

Anonymity and Ethical Compliance

When including information related to patients, authors are required to follow the ethical guidance established by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Manuscripts must clearly indicate that informed consent was obtained and that all ethical obligations were fully met.

Images and datasets should be anonymized whenever possible, preserving the subject’s privacy without diminishing the scientific contribution of the material.

Manuscripts that do not meet these ethical requirements or lack the appropriate permissions may be rejected or have identifying elements removed during editorial processing.

Research Ethics and Consent

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) is committed to publishing research that adheres strictly to ethical guidelines. All studies involving human subjects, animals, or plants must obtain the necessary ethical approvals before submission.

Research Involving Humans

Any research involving human participants must be carried out in accordance with internationally recognized ethical principles, such as those stated in the Declaration of Helsinki. Authors are required to receive prior approval from an institutional review board (IRB) or an equivalent ethics oversight committee.

The manuscript must specify the details of ethical approval, including the name of the institution, the approving committee, and the reference number. Retrospective approvals are generally not considered valid.

Additionally, it must be confirmed that informed consent was obtained from all participants and that efforts were made to safeguard their privacy and personal data.

Research Involving Animals

Research involving animals must comply with institutional and national guidelines, such as those established by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC). Ethical clearance from a recognized animal ethics committee must be obtained before the study begins.

Authors must include in their manuscript the name of the approving body, the ethics reference number, and describe the steps taken to minimize pain or distress to the animals. A rationale for the use of animals must also be provided.

Research Involving Plants

Studies that involve plant material must follow applicable institutional, national, and international ethical standards. Compliance with frameworks such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) must be confirmed.

Manuscripts should include information about any required permissions or licenses obtained for the study to ensure full ethical transparency.

Failure to comply with these research ethics policies or to provide adequate documentation of approvals may result in the manuscript being declined.

Special Issues

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) periodically launches special issues dedicated to specific themes or emerging research areas within civil engineering. These special editions are designed to foster innovation and promote scholarly collaboration.

Appointment of Guest Editors

Guest editors are selected based on their subject expertise, scholarly standing, and previous editorial experience. Nominations may come from the editorial board, current editors, or through self-nomination.

All guest editor nominations are carefully evaluated and must be approved by the Editor-in-Chief to uphold the journal’s standards of academic integrity.

Guest editors are expected to:

• Define the theme and objectives of the special issue.

• Draft and promote the call for papers.

• Manage the manuscript submission and peer review process.

• Ensure the scholarly merit and originality of selected contributions.

• Work closely with the Editor-in-Chief for final publication decisions.

Setup of Special Issues

To propose a special issue, a comprehensive proposal must be submitted to the editorial board. This proposal should detail:

• The proposed theme and objectives.

• The relevance and impact of the topic on the field.

• The names and credentials of potential guest editors.

• A timeline for manuscript submission, peer review, and final publication.

Once approved by the editorial board and Editor-in-Chief, the call for papers is distributed across appropriate academic channels to solicit quality submissions. The guest editors collaborate with the editorial team to ensure the issue aligns with MJCE’s editorial timeline and standards.

Special issues are an important mechanism for advancing focused research topics in civil engineering. MJCE remains fully committed to supporting these initiatives while maintaining its rigorous ethical and editorial practices.

Standards of Reporting

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) places strong emphasis on the importance of precise, thorough, and transparent reporting to support the reproducibility and validation of published research. Authors are required to uphold rigorous reporting standards that contribute to a reliable and robust academic discourse.

• Rationale: Authors must clearly articulate the study’s purpose and relevance, explicitly outlining the research questions and objectives.

• Research Protocol: The study’s methodology—whether experimental or observational—should be detailed comprehensively to allow replication by other researchers.

• Tools and Techniques: A full description of the tools, instruments, and software used must be provided, including version numbers when relevant.

• Data Analysis: Authors must clearly describe how data was collected, processed, and analyzed to maintain credibility and transparency.

• Results and Interpretation: Research findings must be presented in a way that faithfully represents the data, avoiding exaggerations or unsupported claims.

Following these reporting principles ensures that research published in MJCE fosters trust, openness, and reproducibility in the academic record.

Use of Third-Party Material

Authors who wish to include third-party content in their submissions are responsible for complying with all applicable copyright laws and licensing requirements. Third-party material encompasses text, figures, images, tables, datasets, multimedia, and any intellectual property not originally created by the authors.

• Permissions: Authors must secure explicit written consent from copyright holders for any third-party content used, unless the content qualifies under fair use or is in the public domain.

• Fair Use: Limited portions of content may be used under fair use provisions for purposes such as critique or educational use, provided appropriate attribution is given.

• Attribution: All third-party materials, including those under Creative Commons or similar licenses, must be properly credited and cited with their original sources.

Authors must retain documentation of all permissions granted and may be asked to provide them to the editorial office during the submission or review process.

Compliance with these guidelines ensures respect for intellectual property and adherence to ethical publishing standards.

Use of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in Writing

This section concerns the use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools and AI-assisted technologies in the writing phase of manuscript preparation. It does not address AI usage in data analysis or research design.

• Purpose: Authors may utilize AI tools to enhance the language quality and readability of their manuscripts. However, AI tools must not be used for producing scientific content, generating interpretations, or formulating conclusions or recommendations.

• Supervision: AI-generated content must be subject to thorough human review and editing. Authors are fully responsible for verifying the accuracy and appropriateness of all content produced with AI assistance.

• Accountability: Regardless of AI involvement, authors are solely accountable for all aspects of their manuscript content.

Disclosure and Transparency

Authors must disclose any use of AI or AI-assisted technologies during the manuscript submission process. This disclosure will be published alongside the article to maintain openness with readers, reviewers, and editorial staff.

This disclosure also ensures that the use of AI complies with the terms and ethical guidelines of the AI platforms involved.

Authorship Responsibilities

Generative AI tools or systems cannot be recognized as authors or co-authors. Authorship implies responsibilities that only human contributors can fulfill, including:

• Addressing queries regarding the research’s accuracy or integrity;

• Approving the final version of the manuscript for submission;

• Ensuring that the manuscript is original and meets all ethical publication standards.

Authors must ensure that the manuscript fulfills the criteria for intellectual contribution and academic responsibility, regardless of any AI involvement.

Use of AI in Peer Review

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) acknowledges the expanding role of artificial intelligence in academic workflows. However, the peer review process relies on expert human judgment, which AI tools cannot substitute. The following policies apply:

Human Responsibility

The peer review process demands expert evaluation, critical reasoning, and informed judgment, which must be provided by human reviewers and editors. AI must not be used as a substitute in making evaluative decisions.

Confidentiality

Reviewers and editors are strictly prohibited from inputting any manuscript content into AI tools. Doing so risks breaching confidentiality, violating data privacy, and infringing upon the terms of use of those tools.

Peer Review Reports

The privacy of the peer review process applies not only to manuscripts but also to review reports, editorial letters, and all related correspondence. These materials must not be processed by AI systems, even for tasks such as language editing.

AI in Decision-Making

AI must not be involved in the assessment or decision-making regarding a manuscript’s scholarly quality, validity, or impact. Such evaluations remain solely under the domain of qualified human reviewers and editors.

Ethical Use of AI

MJCE permits the ethical use of AI technologies in preliminary editorial operations—such as plagiarism detection and reviewer suggestion—provided confidentiality is maintained and ethical standards are upheld.

Acknowledgment of Ethical Standards

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) maintains a strong commitment to the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. All stakeholders—authors, peer reviewers, and editorial staff—are expected to adhere to the ethical principles established by leading organizations, including the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME), and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).

By submitting a manuscript to MJCE, authors confirm their compliance with these ethical standards, guaranteeing the originality, reliability, and integrity of their research. Similarly, reviewers and editors are obligated to uphold objectivity, maintain confidentiality, and ensure fairness throughout the editorial workflow.

In the event of suspected ethical violations, MJCE follows strict investigative procedures in accordance with COPE recommendations to evaluate and address the concerns. This shared dedication ensures accountability, transparency, and scholarly excellence.

Closing Statements

The Mesopotamian Journal of Civil Engineering (MJCE) is devoted to preserving the integrity, clarity, and ethical rigor of its publishing processes. By aligning with internationally recognized ethical frameworks, the journal aims to cultivate a scholarly environment grounded in trust and accountability.

All contributors—authors, reviewers, and editorial members—are encouraged to actively support and uphold these ethical practices. Through a mutual commitment to fairness, transparency, and academic rigor, the research community can continue to advance knowledge responsibly and ethically.

These ethics guidelines form a reliable foundation for promoting excellence in civil engineering research and for protecting the rights and responsibilities of all participants involved in the publishing process