Peer Review Process

Environmental Engineering Journal ITATS is committed to maintaining the quality, originality, scientific integrity, and academic relevance of all published articles through a rigorous, objective, and transparent peer-review process. All research manuscripts submitted to Environmental Engineering Journal ITATS are evaluated according to the following procedures.

1. Initial Editorial Screening

Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned editor. This screening assesses the manuscript's relevance to the journal's focus and scope, compliance with author guidelines, completeness, originality, research ethics, and general scientific quality.

The editorial team also examines potential plagiarism, inappropriate text overlap, and other publication integrity concerns. Manuscripts that do not meet the journal's basic requirements may be rejected at this stage without proceeding to external peer review.

2. Reviewer Selection and Assignment

Manuscripts that pass the initial screening are assigned to at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise in environmental engineering or related scientific disciplines.

Reviewers are selected based on their academic qualifications, research expertise, publication records, and ability to provide objective and constructive evaluations. Reviewers must disclose any potential conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment.

3. Single-Blind Peer Review

Environmental Engineering Journal ITATS implements a single-blind peer-review system, in which reviewers are aware of the authors' identities, while the identities of the reviewers remain confidential to the authors.

Reviewers are expected to provide independent, objective, constructive, and evidence-based assessments. Manuscripts and associated materials must be treated as confidential documents and must not be disclosed or used for personal benefit.

4. Manuscript Evaluation Criteria

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on the following criteria:

  1. Relevance to the journal's focus and scope.

  2. Originality, novelty, and contribution to scientific knowledge.

  3. Clarity of research objectives and identification of research gaps.

  4. Appropriateness and reliability of research methods.

  5. Accuracy and adequacy of data analysis and interpretation.

  6. Quality of the results and depth of scientific discussion.

  7. Consistency between research objectives, findings, and conclusions.

  8. Relevance, adequacy, and currency of references.

  9. Clarity, coherence, organization, and academic language.

  10. Compliance with research ethics and publication standards.

Reviewers are required to provide substantive comments and recommendations that assist the authors in improving the scientific quality of their manuscripts.

5. Editorial Decision

Based on the reviewers' reports and the editorial assessment, the Editor-in-Chief or authorized handling editor determines the manuscript's editorial decision. 

When reviewer recommendations differ significantly, the editor may seek clarification or invite an additional independent reviewer. 

The final acceptance or rejection decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief, taking into consideration the reviewers' recommendations, scientific merit, and the journal's editorial standards.

6. Manuscript Revision and Re-evaluation

Authors receiving revision requests must submit a revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response explaining how each reviewer comment has been addressed.

Revised manuscripts are evaluated by the handling editor and may be returned to the original reviewers for further assessment, particularly when major revisions are required.

A manuscript may undergo additional rounds of review until its scientific quality and presentation meet the journal's publication standards.

7. Final Editing and Publication

Accepted manuscripts proceed to copyediting, layout editing, and proofreading to ensure accuracy, readability, consistency, and conformity with Environmental Engineering Journal ITATS publication standards.

The editorial team verifies that required corrections have been incorporated before the final version is published.

All stages of manuscript assessment, reviewer recommendations, author revisions, and editorial decisions are documented and maintained as part of the journal's editorial records.

Environmental Engineering Journal ITATS is committed to continuous improvement of its editorial and peer-review practices to maintain the integrity and quality of published scientific research.