Editorial Policies

The Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT) is committed to maintaining a rigorous, transparent, efficient, and academically independent editorial process. The Journal's editorial policies establish the framework through which manuscripts are received, assessed, reviewed, revised, accepted, prepared for publication, and ultimately published. These policies apply to all submissions, including regular research articles, review articles, technical papers, methodological contributions, invited manuscripts, and papers submitted to Special Issues.

Open Access, Copyright and Licensing

The Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT)promotes the unrestricted dissemination of scholarly research by making all published articles immediately and permanently accessible online without subscription charges or other financial barriers. This approach supports the global exchange of knowledge, increases research visibility, and enables readers to access, download, share, and use published content freely within the terms of the applicable license. Authors retain ownership of their work and the intellectual property rights associated with their scholarly contributions.

All articles published by the Journal are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution–NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License. Under this license, third parties may copy, reproduce, distribute, share, adapt, and build upon published material for non-commercial purposes, provided that proper attribution is given to the original author(s) and the Journal, a link to the license is included, and any modifications are clearly indicated. Commercial use of published content requires prior written authorization from the authors, who retain the copyright.

Copyright in each published article remains with its author(s). Neither the Journal nor its publisher, Insight Harbour, acquires ownership of the authors’ copyright through publication. However, authors grant the Journal and Insight Harbour a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual license to publish, reproduce, distribute, preserve, archive, index, and promote their articles in print, digital, and other formats, and to acknowledge the Journal as the original place of publication.

Authors may continue to use and disseminate their published work without obtaining additional permission from the Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT)Permitted activities include sharing the published version on personal or institutional websites, depositing it in academic repositories, incorporating it into theses or dissertations, using it for educational and professional purposes, reproducing it in books or other scholarly publications, and translating, revising, or adapting it for future works. Wherever the published article is reused or redistributed, authors should provide appropriate acknowledgment of its original publication in the Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT)and include the article’s DOI whenever practicable.

Editorial Leadership and Governance

The Journal is led by an Editor-in-Chief who has overall responsibility for its academic direction, editorial standards, publication quality, and final editorial decisions. The Editor-in-Chief is supported by an Editorial Board and, where applicable, Guest Editors. Editors are selected on the basis of relevant academic or professional expertise and contribute to the development of the Journal, editorial assessment, reviewer selection, and scholarly activities.

The Editorial Board provides academic guidance and supports the Journal in maintaining a strong and relevant publication program. Board members may contribute to manuscript assessment, peer review, identification of appropriate reviewers, development of Special Issues, and promotion of the Journal within the scholarly community. Editorial Board membership does not provide any special entitlement to publication or exemption from the Journal's normal editorial procedures.

Editorial Independence

Editorial decisions are based primarily on the scholarly merits of a manuscript, its relevance to the Journal's scope, originality, technical quality, methodological rigor, significance, and clarity. Decisions are made independently of commercial considerations, advertising arrangements, sponsorship, institutional affiliation, nationality, or other non-academic factors.

The Publisher provides the administrative, technical, and production infrastructure required for publication but does not determine the academic outcome of individual submissions. The editorial team retains responsibility for the evaluation and selection of content published by the Journal.

Scope and Editorial Suitability

All manuscripts submitted to JGCT are first considered in relation to the Journal's aims and scope. The Journal welcomes research addressing green construction technologies and related developments in sustainable construction, environmentally responsible materials and methods, energy and resource efficiency, low-carbon construction, circular construction, sustainable infrastructure, building performance, environmental assessment, and other relevant technological and interdisciplinary areas.

The initial assessment determines whether a manuscript is sufficiently relevant to the Journal and appropriate for further consideration. Manuscripts that fall substantially outside the Journal's scope, lack a meaningful scholarly contribution, or do not meet essential submission requirements may be declined without being sent for external peer review.

Initial Editorial Assessment

Following submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial administrative and editorial assessment. The Editorial Office verifies that the submission contains the required files and information, while the responsible editor considers its academic relevance and general suitability.

The initial assessment may consider the manuscript's originality, technical and methodological quality, clarity, organization, relevance to green construction technology, and potential contribution to the field. This stage is intended to determine whether the manuscript is suitable for formal peer review and  not regarded as a substitute for external scholarly evaluation.

Assignment of Manuscripts

Manuscripts that pass the initial assessment are assigned to an editor with appropriate subject expertise. The handling editor oversees the subsequent editorial process, including the identification of appropriate reviewers, consideration of reviewer reports, communication with authors, and formulation of an editorial decision.

The Editor-in-Chief may reassign a manuscript when specialist expertise is required, when an editor has insufficient availability, or when another editorial arrangement would provide more appropriate handling of the submission.

Peer Review

Manuscripts selected for external evaluation are processed in accordance with the Journal's Double-Blind Peer Review Policy. The review process is intended to provide independent assessment of the manuscript's scholarly contribution, technical quality, methodological rigor, clarity, and relevance to the field.

The Journal normally seeks appropriate independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the subject of the manuscript. Additional reviewers may be invited when specialist knowledge is required, when reviewer assessments differ substantially, or when the editor considers further evaluation necessary. Reviewer recommendations form an important part of the editorial assessment, but the final decision remains the responsibility of the designated editor.

Editorial Decisions

Following editorial assessment and peer review, a manuscript may be accepted, returned for minor or major revision, invited for resubmission where appropriate, or rejected. Decisions are based on the overall assessment of the manuscript and are not determined simply by counting reviewer recommendations.

Where revision is requested, authors are expected to respond carefully to the comments provided and to explain the changes made to the manuscript. A revised manuscript may be returned to the original reviewers, evaluated by new reviewers, or assessed directly by the editor depending on the nature and extent of the revisions. Revision does not constitute a guarantee of acceptance.

Editorial Timelines

JGCT seeks to process submissions efficiently while allowing sufficient time for appropriate editorial assessment, peer review, revision, and production. The duration of the editorial process may vary depending on manuscript complexity, reviewer availability, the time required to obtain appropriate assessments, the extent of revisions, and the Journal's publication schedule.

Authors are expected to respond promptly to editorial communications and revision requests. Where circumstances require additional time, the Journal may extend the relevant stage of the process in order to maintain the quality and integrity of editorial assessment.

Special Issues

The Journal may publish Special Issues devoted to emerging themes, significant developments, technological advances, or interdisciplinary areas within green construction technology. Special Issues are intended to bring together a coherent collection of scholarly contributions addressing a defined area of academic or professional interest.

Proposals for Special Issues should normally identify the proposed theme and title, explain its academic significance and relevance to the Journal, describe the intended scope, provide information about the proposed Guest Editor or Editors, and indicate an anticipated submission and publication schedule. Proposals are reviewed by the Editor-in-Chief or designated editorial authority before approval.

Following approval, the Journal may issue a formal Call for Papers describing the Special Issue and its submission requirements. Special Issues may be promoted through appropriate academic and professional networks to encourage relevant and high-quality submissions.

Guest Editors

Guest Editors are selected on the basis of appropriate expertise and are responsible for assisting with the academic development and coordination of an approved Special Issue. Their responsibilities may include refining the thematic scope, supporting the Call for Papers, identifying potential reviewers, monitoring submissions, and providing editorial recommendations.

Guest Editors work under the direction of the Editor-in-Chief and must follow the Journal's established editorial and peer-review procedures. They do not have unrestricted authority to accept manuscripts, and final publication decisions remain with the Editor-in-Chief or another appropriately designated editor.

A manuscript submitted by a Guest Editor, or a manuscript involving a circumstance that could compromise independent editorial assessment, is handled by an independent editor. This ensures that Special Issue submissions receive the same level of editorial consideration as manuscripts submitted to regular issues.

Special Issue Manuscripts

Manuscripts submitted to Special Issues are subject to the same standards of editorial assessment and peer review as regular submissions. Invitation to submit, participation in a Special Issue, or recommendation by a Guest Editor does not guarantee acceptance.

Accepted Special Issue manuscripts follow the Journal's normal production and publication procedures and receive the same publication status as articles appearing in regular issues. If a Special Issue cannot proceed as originally planned, the Journal may modify its schedule, postpone publication, discontinue the issue, or consider transferring suitable accepted or ongoing manuscripts to a regular issue where appropriate.

Invited Contributions

The Journal may invite established researchers, practitioners, or subject specialists to contribute review articles, perspectives, technical papers, commentaries, or other scholarly content relevant to its scope. An invitation represents an opportunity to submit and does not constitute acceptance.

Invited manuscripts remain subject to the Journal's applicable editorial assessment and peer-review requirements. The same standards of scholarly quality and relevance apply to invited and unsolicited submissions.

Resubmission of Manuscripts

Where the Journal permits resubmission of a previously declined manuscript, authors should identify the earlier submission and explain how the substantive concerns raised during the previous assessment have been addressed.

A resubmitted manuscript is evaluated as part of the Journal's current editorial process and may be assessed by the same or different editors and reviewers. Resubmission does not imply that the manuscript will necessarily be accepted.

Publication Scheduling

Accepted manuscripts are scheduled for publication according to the Journal's editorial priorities, production requirements, issue planning, and publication schedule. The Journal uses a continuous-publication model, and an article may be published online after completion of the editorial and production process rather than waiting for the completion of a full issue.

The Journal may adjust the order or timing of publication when necessary for editorial, production, or operational reasons.

Copyediting and Production

Following acceptance, manuscripts undergo appropriate editorial and production preparation. This may include language and copyediting, formatting, reference checking, preparation of figures and tables, typesetting, metadata preparation, DOI registration, and other production activities necessary for publication.

Authors receive proofs for final checking before publication and are expected to review them carefully within the specified timeframe. Proof corrections should normally be limited to typographical, formatting, or genuine factual errors. Substantial changes to an accepted manuscript may require additional editorial consideration and may not be permitted at the proof stage.

Open Access and Publication Charges

JGCT follows the Open Access model described above and published articles are made available to readers in accordance with the Journal's stated licensing arrangements.

An Article Processing Charge applies only to the articles accepted by editors after formal peer review. The amount and payment conditions/methods are communicated clearly to authors. Payment of an APC has no influence on peer review, editorial assessment, or the decision to accept or reject a manuscript. Any waiver or discount arrangements are administered separately from the academic decision-making process.

Archiving and Self-Archiving Policy

The Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT) recognizes the importance of preserving scholarly publications and ensuring their continued availability over time. To protect the published record against data loss, technical disruptions, and other unforeseen events, the Journal uses established digital preservation services, including the LOCKSS (Lots of Copies Keep Stuff Safe) network and the PKP Preservation Network. These arrangements support the secure preservation and long-term accessibility of the Journal’s published articles.

Authors are also permitted to self-archive their accepted manuscripts or published articles in institutional repositories, subject-specific repositories, or other recognized academic platforms after the article has been published online. When depositing their work, authors should clearly identify the Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT)as the original publisher and provide a link to the version of record on the Journal’s official website to facilitate accurate citation and access to the published article.

Advertising and Commercial Communication

Currently, the journal does not participate in Advertising and Commercial Communication. However, when started in future, advertising, sponsorship, promotional activities, and other commercial arrangements will be kept separate from editorial decision-making, not influencing the assessment, peer review, acceptance, rejection, or publication scheduling of manuscripts.

Published Record and Author Corrections

After publication, authors may contact the Journal regarding genuine errors or issues affecting the published presentation of their work. The Journal evaluates such requests and determines the appropriate editorial or production action.

Where an amendment is necessary, the Journal may publish an appropriate correction or update while maintaining a clear connection with the original published article. The Journal aims to preserve the accuracy, continuity, and accessibility of the published scholarly record.

Editorial Board Development

The composition of the Editorial Board is reviewed periodically to ensure that it continues to reflect the Journal's scope, developing areas of green construction technology, and the needs of its international readership.

In developing the Editorial Board, the Journal may consider subject expertise, scholarly experience, disciplinary coverage, geographical representation, participation in editorial activities, and engagement with the Journal's academic objectives. Editorial Board appointments are subject to the Journal's editorial requirements and may be reviewed periodically.

Publication Disclaimer

The interpretations, findings, technical opinions, conclusions, and recommendations expressed in published articles remain the responsibility of the respective authors. Publication in JGCT does not necessarily imply endorsement of those views by the Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Board, Publisher, or any affiliated organization.

The Journal provides a scholarly platform for the dissemination of research but does not assume responsibility for the subsequent application of published findings, technologies, methods, materials, models, or recommendations in professional, construction, commercial, environmental, or other settings.

Appeals and Complaints Policy

The Journal of Green Construction Technology (JGCT) The Journal welcomes complaints concerning editorial conduct, peer-review practices, publication ethics, conflicts of interest, and other matters relating to its publishing operations. All complaints will be examined impartially, confidentially, and without undue delay. Where necessary, further clarification or supporting information may be requested from the relevant parties before a conclusion is reached. Appropriate remedial or corrective measures will be implemented when warranted to uphold editorial integrity, ensure procedural fairness, and maintain confidence in the Journal’s publishing practices.

Authors who believe that an editorial decision was affected by a significant procedural irregularity, factual misunderstanding, or failure to consider relevant evidence may submit a written appeal to  appeals_and_complaints@insightharbour.com. Appeals must clearly explain the grounds for reconsideration and include relevant supporting information. Each appeal will be assessed independently and objectively. Submitting an appeal does not guarantee that the original decision will be overturned or that the manuscript will undergo an additional round of peer review.

The Journal remains committed to ensuring a fair, transparent, and accountable editorial process in all aspects of its publishing activities.

Policy Review

The Journal periodically reviews its editorial policies to ensure that its procedures remain appropriate for developments in green construction technology, scholarly communication, digital publishing, Open Access, and evolving practices in academic publishing.

The Journal may amend these policies when necessary. Significant changes will be communicated through the Journal's website or other appropriate channels.

Relationship with Other Journal Policies

These Editorial Policies should be read together with the Journal's Authors' Guidelines, Double-Blind Peer Review Policy, Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy, Open Access and Licensing Policy, AI Policy, and other applicable publication policies.

The Editorial Policies describe the Journal's editorial and publication procedures, while the separate Publication Ethics and Research Integrity Policy establishes the standards governing ethical and responsible conduct throughout the publication process.