AI Usage and Disclosure Policy

The Iraqi Journal of Civil Engineering (IJCE) recognizes the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in advancing research and scholarly communication. AI technologies, including generative AI and large language models (LLMs), offer valuable tools for researchers, enabling more efficient idea generation, data analysis, synthesis of findings, language refinement, and manuscript structuring.

While these tools can accelerate research and support the publication process, they cannot replace the creativity, critical thinking, and scholarly judgment inherent to human researchers. IJCE emphasizes that AI should be used responsibly, ethically, and transparently, ensuring that all scholarly work remains original, accurate, and accountable.

This policy provides clear guidance for authors, reviewers, and editors on the ethical use of AI technologies in all stages of research, writing, peer review, and editorial decision-making. By adhering to these guidelines, the IJCE community can leverage AI responsibly while upholding the highest standards of research integrity and publication ethics.

1. For Authors

IJCE recognizes the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in research and writing. Authors may use AI tools (e.g., for grammar correction, language polishing, or data analysis) provided that such use is declared transparently in the manuscript. However, AI tools must not be listed as authors or co-authors, as they cannot take responsibility for the submitted work.

  • Authors are fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the manuscript, regardless of any AI assistance used.
  • The use of AI in generating text, figures, or data analysis must be clearly acknowledged in the methodology or acknowledgments section.
  • Submissions that rely heavily on AI-generated content without significant human oversight, interpretation, and originality will not be accepted.
  • Undisclosed use of AI tools that results in plagiarism, fabricated data, or misleading content will be treated as research misconduct.

2. For Reviewers

IJCE values confidentiality and the integrity of the peer-review process. Reviewers are expected to conduct independent, unbiased assessments of manuscripts.

  • Reviewers must not use AI tools to generate, summarize, or outsource their review reports, as this compromises confidentiality and quality.
  • Limited use of AI for language editing or reference checking is acceptable, provided that confidential manuscript content is not uploaded to third-party platforms.
  • Reviewers remain fully accountable for the originality, fairness, and confidentiality of their evaluation.

3. For Editors

Editors of IJCE are committed to maintaining ethical standards and ensuring trust in scholarly publishing.

  • Editors must not delegate editorial decision-making to AI systems. Editorial judgment should remain based on human expertise, peer review, and scholarly merit.
  • AI tools may be used to assist with technical checks (e.g., plagiarism detection, grammar review, or citation verification), but final editorial decisions rest solely with the Editor-in-Chief and the Editorial Board.
  • Editors must ensure that AI-generated content is not published without proper disclosure and that ethical guidelines are consistently enforced.

4. Accountability

In all cases, human responsibility is paramount. Authors, reviewers, and editors are fully accountable for the content they produce or approve, regardless of any AI assistance. IJCE is committed to safeguarding research integrity and ensuring that AI serves only as a supportive tool, not a substitute for scholarly contribution.