Peer Review Policy
How JERA screens, reviews, and decides on submitted manuscripts
Review Philosophy
How Manuscripts Are Reviewed
A paper is initially screened for scope and quality when it is submitted to JERA. Papers that pass this initial evaluation are sent for peer review. The review process is an important step in publishing an article — it helps an editor decide whether to publish an article and gives the author a chance to improve the manuscript.
JERA follows the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). Every effort is made to ensure peer review is rigorous, objective, and conducted in a timely manner. Significance, originality, clarity, validity, and relevance to the journal's scope are all taken into consideration when deciding whether to accept or reject a manuscript.
Potential reviewers are sought from a variety of sources: the editorial board, in-house expertise, author recommendations, and online bibliographic databases. Reviewer assessments are heavily weighted in the decision on whether to accept a submission. Reviewers are assigned based on subject-matter competence, with ethical considerations kept in mind.
Outcomes
Possible Editorial Decisions
Accept unconditionally
Accept, with or without editorial revisions
Accept conditionally — revise to address specific concerns before a final decision
Reject in current form
Reject, but invite resubmission if further work could make it appropriate
Reject outright — usually for lack of novelty, lack of professional interest, inadequate conceptual advancement, or significant technical/interpretational issues
After a manuscript has been revised, the final decision on whether to publish rests with the Editor-in-Chief and the Managing Editors.
Become a Reviewer for JERA
JERA is always seeking qualified experts to join its reviewer pool. If you hold relevant expertise and have published peer-reviewed research in civil engineering or an allied discipline, you're welcome to apply.
Apply as a Reviewer