Author Guidelines

SUBMISSION

All materials submitted for publication must be original, unpublished work and are NOT under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Papers/manuscripts must be submitted through an online system. Authors are required to propose two (2) potential reviewers respected in their fields for each submitted article. The name, academic position, name of the institution and email address of the potential reviewer should be provided at the end of the article.

For the online submission, the author (contributor) should "register" as a user and "log in" through https://journal.uitm.edu.my/ojs/index.php/BEJ/

Editors reserve the right to edit/comment on the content of the manuscript. If the editors recommend major or substantial amendments, the authors can accept or reject the recommendations (and withdraw participation).

MANUSCRIPT PREPARATION

Authors to download the template

Language

The manuscript must be submitted in British English.

Authors should ensure that their manuscript undergoes thorough proofreading by a professional editor or achieves a Grammarly score of at least 90%.

Turnitin Similarity Index

The manuscript submitted should be less than 20%.

Length

An Original research paper should be between 6000 and 8000 words.

A review paper should be no more than 7000 to 8000 words.

Title Page

  • Use title case (Capitalize Each Word).
  • List authors and affiliations clearly.

Abstract and Keywords

  • Max 300 words.
  • Include up to 6 relevant keywords.

Text

  • Use a single-column MS Word format.
  • Structure: Title, Authors, Abstract, Keywords, Main Text, Acknowledgments, References, Appendix.
  • Use 10 pt font for headings; paragraphs should be indented (except the first one in Introduction and Acknowledgments).
  • No page numbering.
  • Spell out numbers under 10 (e.g., three (3)).
  • Use SI units.
  • Avoid footnotes unless necessary.

Illustration

  • Embed directly into the manuscript (not sent separately).
  • Minimum 300 dpi resolution; avoid blurry images.
  • Use Times New Roman (9 pt) for labels in diagrams.
  • Number figures (Fig. 1, Fig. 2, etc.) and place captions below.

Units

  • Use SI units consistently.
  • Define acronyms fully at first mention e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS).

Reference

  • Use APA 7th edition style.
  • In-text citation: (Author, Year) or (Author et al., Year).
  • List all cited references at the end, sorted alphabetically.
  • Include clickable DOI links for journal articles.
  • The minimum number of references should be 15.

Copyright

  • Authors should obtain permission to publish illustrations/images/figures copyrighted by others before submission and acknowledgements should be included in the captions.
  • Articles are published under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0) license.
  • Authors retain copyright.

GENERATIVE AI AND AI-ASSISTED TOOLS

The Built Environment Journal (BEJ) recognizes that generative artificial intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies can support authors in manuscript preparation. However, their use must be transparent, ethical, and limited in scope.

For Authors

  • Permitted uses: AI tools may be used for language editing, grammar, or formatting.
  • Prohibited uses: AI tools must not be used to generate original scientific content, analysis, interpretation, or conclusions.
  • Disclosure: Any use of AI tools must be declared through the submission system and in the acceptance declaration form (tool name, version, and purpose). No statement is required in the manuscript itself.
  • Authorship: AI cannot be listed as an author. Authorship requires accountability, which only humans can provide.
  • Figures and images: Any figures or images created, altered, or enhanced with AI must be documented during submission, with details of the tool used and extent of modification.
  • References and citations: Authors are responsible for ensuring that all references are genuine and verifiable. AI may not be used to generate reference lists. Fabricated or unverifiable citations will be treated as academic misconduct.

For Reviewers

  • Manuscripts are confidential and must not be uploaded to AI tools for analysis or language correction.
  • Reviews must represent the reviewer’s independent scholarly judgment.

For Editors

  • Editors may not rely on AI to make decisions on manuscripts. All editorial judgments must remain human responsibilities.

Enforcement

  • Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of their work, including any AI-assisted content.
  • AI use will be recorded through the submission and acceptance processes. Failure to declare AI use may result in rejection or retraction.