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Journal of Terra Geospatial

Research Ethics and Publication Malpractice

Terrageospatial is committed to upholding the integrity of the scientific record. As a journal following the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidelines, we adhere to strict standards regarding how to handle potential acts of misconduct. Authors must refrain from misrepresenting research results, as it damages the professional trust in scientific authorship.

1. Plagiarism and Originality

Authors must ensure that their submitted work is entirely original and has not been published previously, in part or in full.

  • Definition: Presenting the data, text, or theories of others as if they were the author's own constitutes plagiarism and is strictly prohibited.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Authors must provide transparency regarding the re-use of their own previously published material to avoid "text-recycling" or self-plagiarism.
  • Salami-Publishing: A single study should not be split into multiple parts to increase the quantity of submissions (salami-slicing).
  • Screening: Terrageospatial reserves the right to use specialized software to screen all submitted manuscripts for plagiarism.
  • Citations: Proper acknowledgments must be given to all work that influenced the study, including summarized or paraphrased content.

2. Authorship and Credits

Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study.

  • Collective Responsibility: All authors listed on the submission share collective responsibility and accountability for the results.
  • Consent: Explicit consent to submit the work must be received from all co-authors and relevant authorities at the host organization before submission.
  • Authorship Changes: Changes to the author list or order are generally not accepted after a manuscript has been accepted.
  • Justification: Any request to add or delete authors during the revision stage requires a compelling, written explanation and approval from all original authors. The final decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief.

3. Use of AI and Large Language Models (LLM)

In alignment with emerging international publishing standards, Terrageospatial has established the following policy regarding Generative AI:

  • Authorship Eligibility: AI tools and LLMs (such as ChatGPT) cannot be listed as an author or co-author. Authorship implies legal responsibility and accountability, which AI cannot fulfill.
  • Disclosure Requirement: Authors must disclose the use of Generative AI or AI-assisted technologies in the writing process. This disclosure should be placed in a dedicated section or the Acknowledgments.
  • Responsibility for Content: The human authors are 100% responsible for the accuracy, integrity, and originality of the work, including any parts generated or edited by AI. Authors must ensure that AI use does not lead to plagiarism or the fabrication of data.
  • Technical Graphics: If AI was used to create or enhance figures, maps, or illustrations, this must be explicitly stated in the figure caption.

4. Data Integrity and Fabrication

Maintaining the integrity of research requires following the rules of good scientific practice.

  • Fabrication: No data may be fabricated or manipulated (including images) to support the study's conclusions.
  • Data Access: Upon request, authors must be prepared to send relevant raw data or records to the editorial office to verify the validity of the results.

5. Peer Review Process (Detailed)

Terrageospatial operates a double-anonymized peer review policy.

  • Initial Internal Review: Manuscripts are first checked by the Editor for scope, language quality, and plagiarism.
  • Expert Review: Submissions that pass the initial check are sent to at least two independent expert reviewers.
  • Final Decision: The Editor-in-Chief makes the final decision based on reviewer recommendations: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject.
  • Timeline: The estimated time for the first decision is 4-6 weeks.

6. Handling Misconduct

If a suspicion of misconduct arises, the journal will conduct an investigation following COPE guidelines.

  • Resolution: If misconduct is established, the Editor-in-Chief may implement measures including, but not limited to, rejecting the manuscript, issuing an erratum for published work, or a complete retraction of the article.
  • Notification: In severe cases, the author's institution may be informed of the findings.

7. Post-Publication Correction & Retraction Policy

  • Errata: For significant errors made by the journal or authors that do not invalidate the research.
  • Retractions: Reserved for cases of clear misconduct, plagiarism, or unreliable data.
  • Policy: Once an article is published online, it is the "Version of Record" and cannot be simply deleted; changes must be linked via a formal notice.