Plagiarism Policy

 

Sustainable Construction and Management is committed to upholding the highest standards of academic integrity and publication ethics. As part of this commitment, the journal maintains a strict policy against plagiarism in any form.

 

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves the use of another person's ideas, words, data, or work without proper acknowledgment or permission. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying text, figures, or tables from other sources without proper citation

  • Paraphrasing substantial portions of another’s work without attribution

  • Using previously published content (including one’s own) without disclosure (self-plagiarism)

  • Submitting someone else’s work as one’s own

 

Screening Process

All submissions to Sustainable Construction and Management undergo a plagiarism screening process using reliable plagiarism detection software (such as Turnitin, iThenticate, or similar tools) before being sent for peer review.

The journal generally adheres to the following thresholds:

  • Minor Overlap (<10%): May be acceptable if properly cited; subject to editorial discretion.

  • Moderate Overlap (10–20%): Requires revision and explanation from the author.

  • Significant Overlap (>20%): May result in outright rejection of the manuscript.

 

Actions in Case of Plagiarism

If plagiarism is detected at any stage—before or after publication—the following actions may be taken:

  • Immediate rejection of the manuscript

  • Retraction of the published article (if already published)

  • Notification to the authors’ institutions or funding bodies

  • Blacklisting of the authors from future submissions

Author Responsibilities

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their manuscripts and must properly cite all sources, whether quoted directly or paraphrased. Authors must also disclose if their submitted work overlaps with previously published or submitted work, including conference papers or preprints.

 

Editorial Oversight

The editorial board of Sustainable Construction and Management reserves the right to investigate and take necessary action in all cases of suspected plagiarism in accordance with COPE guidelines and international publishing ethics.