Publication Ethics and Guidelines

As a dedicated member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), Geography and Environmental Hazards upholds rigorous ethical standards throughout its publication process. The journal complies fully with COPE's principles, ensuring that editors, reviewers, and authors align with these ethical commitments from initial submission to final publication.

Confirmation of COPE Membership

For verification, please visit:
https://members.publicationethics.org/members/geography-and-environmental-hazards

Open Access Statement

Geography and Environmental Hazards operates as an open-access journal, granting unrestricted and free access to its content. Readers can download, copy, print, distribute, and link to articles for lawful purposes without requiring prior authorization from the authors or publisher, provided proper citation is maintained.

This policy reflects the journal’s mission to promote global knowledge sharing by making research freely available to the public.

Publication Frequency

The journal is published quarterly, ensuring timely dissemination of high-quality research on critical issues related to geography and environmental hazards.

Copyright Provisions

• Authors retain copyright for their work published in the journal.
• Authors grant Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM) the right to publish their articles and identify itself as the publisher.
• Third parties may freely use published content, provided its integrity remains intact, and the original authors, publication details, and the journal are appropriately credited.

Conflict of Interest (COI) Statement

Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose any financial, institutional, or personal conflicts of interest that could influence the research or editorial decisions. Authors must provide a COI statement in their manuscripts, and reviewers must decline assignments where a COI exists.

AI and LLM Usage Policy

In line with COPE guidelines, the journal permits the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and large language models (LLMs) exclusively to assist with specific sections, such as the methodology. These tools are not credited as authors or contributors. Authors must disclose any AI usage in their manuscripts and remain fully responsible for the accuracy and authenticity of their work.

Publisher Responsibilities

Ferdowsi University of Mashhad ensures the journal’s integrity and sustainability by:

1. Guaranteeing editorial independence, free from external influence.
2. Supporting ethical practices and addressing misconduct.
3. Providing infrastructure for seamless editorial and publication workflows.
4. Ensuring compliance with copyright, defamation, and intellectual property laws.
5. Preserving journal content through proper archiving and digital preservation strategies, including collaborations with platforms such as Portico and Internet Archive.

Peer Review Process

The journal employs a double-blind review system, ensuring the anonymity of authors and reviewers throughout the evaluation. Manuscripts are assessed by at least two experts, chosen based on their relevant expertise. The Editor-in-Chief makes final decisions based on reviewer feedback, scientific merit, and alignment with the journal’s objectives.

Equity and Transparency in Review

All manuscripts are evaluated impartially, regardless of the authors' backgrounds or affiliations. Comprehensive feedback is provided to ensure clarity and transparency in the decision-making process.

Plagiarism Detection Process

The journal employs plagiarism detection software ( iThenticate) for all submitted manuscripts before peer review process.

Editorial Board

The editorial board comprises experts from diverse geographic and institutional backgrounds, reflecting the journal's commitment to promoting a global perspective in its research scope. Details of the editorial board members, including affiliations and expertise, are available on the journal's website Editorial Board section.

Scope and International Relevance

Geography and Environmental Hazards addresses critical topics of global importance, such as disaster management, environmental risks, and spatial analysis. The journal seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of these challenges through research that spans geographic regions and cultural contexts.

Data Accessibility

Authors must submit a clear data availability statement and ensure relevant datasets are accessible, ideally through publicly available repositories. Data should be provided upon request to support reproducibility and further research.

Ethical Compliance

For studies involving human or animal subjects, authors must submit evidence of ethical approval and, where applicable, informed consent statements. Non-compliance with these standards may result in rejection.

Roles and Responsibilities

• Editors: Oversee manuscript evaluations based on intellectual and scientific merit, maintain confidentiality, and address ethical breaches following COPE guidelines.
• Reviewers: Provide unbiased, professional feedback, treat submissions confidentially, and avoid self-serving citation recommendations unless scientifically necessary.
• Authors: Ensure originality, provide accurate data, disclose conflicts of interest, and adhere to ethical standards, including obtaining necessary approvals.

Key Criteria for Authorship aligned with COPE

An author must meet all of the following four criteria:

1. Substantial Contribution – The individual must have significantly contributed to the study’s conception, design, data collection, analysis, or interpretation.
2. Drafting or Revising – They must have been actively involved in writing or critically revising the manuscript for intellectual content.
3. Approval of the Final Version – Authorship must be based on substantial contributions to the conception, design, analysis, or interpretation of research. All authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission.
4. Accountability – They must agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work, ensuring its accuracy and integrity.

🔹 If someone does not meet all four criteria, they should be acknowledged but not listed as an author.

Correction, Retraction, and Expression of Concern Policy

1. Introduction

The Journal of Geography and Environmental Hazards is committed to maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the scientific record. This policy outlines the procedures for issuing corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern in accordance with COPE Retraction Guidelines and industry best practices.

2. Corrections

2.1 Minor Corrections (Erratum)

A minor correction (erratum) is issued when an error does not affect the scientific integrity, reliability, or understanding of the research findings. Examples include:

• Spelling or typographical errors that do not alter meaning
• Incorrect author affiliations
• Minor formatting issues in figures or tables

Process:

1. The error is reported by the author(s), reader(s), or editorial team.
2. The editorial team reviews the request.
3. If the error is minor and non-impactful, an erratum notice is published in the next issue and linked to the original article.

2.2 Major Corrections (Corrigendum)

A major correction (corrigendum) is issued when an error affects the research findings, but does not completely invalidate the conclusions. Examples include:

• Errors in data analysis that slightly change numerical values but not conclusions
• Omissions in citations or attributions that need correction
• Incorrect descriptions of methodology that require clarification

Process:

1. The error is reported by the author(s) or identified during post-publication review.
2. The editorial team evaluates whether the correction affects the conclusions.
3. If necessary, reviewers or additional experts may be consulted.
4. If approved, a corrigendum is published in the next issue, stating the nature of the correction and its impact. The original article is updated, with a note indicating the correction.

3. Retractions

A retraction is issued when an article contains serious ethical violations or errors that invalidate its findings. Retractions follow COPE guidelines and are considered in cases of:

• Plagiarism or redundant (duplicate) publication
• Data fabrication or falsification
• Significant errors that invalidate results (e.g., miscalculated data, incorrect methodologies)
• Breach of ethical guidelines (e.g., lack of patient consent, conflicts of interest not disclosed)
• Authorship misconduct, such as ghostwriting or false attribution

Process:

1. The editorial team investigates the issue upon receiving credible evidence (from readers, authors, reviewers, or institutional inquiries).
2. The corresponding author is notified and given two weeks to respond.
3. If misconduct or invalidity is confirmed, the article is marked for retraction.
4. A formal retraction notice is published, detailing:
   • The reason for retraction
   • The responsible parties (if misconduct is involved)
   • The extent of the article’s unreliability
5. The original article remains accessible but is clearly marked as "Retracted" on the journal website .

4. Expressions of Concern

An Expression of Concern is issued when there is uncertainty about the integrity of a published article, but an investigation is ongoing or inconclusive. This is used when:

• A credible complaint has been made, but evidence is incomplete.
• Institutional investigations into misconduct are in progress.
• The article’s findings are questioned, but further verification is needed.

Process:

1. The concern is reported to the editorial team.
2. The editorial board conducts an initial review and may consult external experts.
3. If concerns are valid but require further inquiry, an Expression of Concern is published, stating:
   • The nature of the concern
   • That an investigation is in progress
   • That a final decision (correction or retraction) is pending
4. Once investigations are complete, the journal updates or removes the Expression of Concern with a correction, retraction, or dismissal of concerns.

5. Appeals and Disputes

Authors may appeal correction or retraction decisions by submitting a written request to the Editor-in-Chief, providing supporting evidence. Appeals are reviewed by an independent ethics committee and may involve COPE consultation.

 Complaints about journal operations may be sent to geo.eh@um.ac.ir and will be acknowledged within three working days.

6. Transparency and Indexing

• All corrections, retractions, and expressions of concern are assigned DOIs and indexed in databases like  DOAJ and PubMed.
• The journal adheres to COPE Retraction Guidelines and ensures ethical transparency.