Applied Science in Disaster Journal (ASDJ) is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics and academic integrity. This statement outlines the ethical responsibilities of all parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher. The journal follows the principles and best practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

1. Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to ASDJ must ensure that their work is original, accurate, and has not been previously published or submitted elsewhere. All sources must be properly cited, and plagiarism in any form is strictly prohibited. Authors are required to present data honestly and transparently, without fabrication, falsification, or inappropriate data manipulation.

Authorship should reflect individuals who have made significant contributions to the research. All co-authors must approve the final version of the manuscript and agree to its submission. Any potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, must be clearly disclosed.

2. Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for making publication decisions based solely on the academic merit, originality, clarity, and relevance of the manuscript to the scope of the journal. Editors must maintain confidentiality of submitted manuscripts and ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely peer-review process.

Editors should not use unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without the author’s explicit written consent. Any conflicts of interest must be declared, and editors must recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which they have competing interests.

3. Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions and help authors improve the quality of their manuscripts. Reviewers must treat all manuscripts as confidential documents and must not disclose or use any information obtained through peer review for personal advantage.

Reviews should be conducted objectively, supported by clear arguments, and without personal criticism of the authors. Reviewers should identify relevant published work that has not been cited and report any suspected ethical misconduct, plagiarism, or duplicate publication to the editor.

4. Peer Review Process

Applied Science in Disaster Journal employs a double-blind peer review process to ensure impartiality and academic rigor. Manuscripts are reviewed by experts in relevant fields based on their originality, methodological soundness, significance, and contribution to applied disaster science.

5. Plagiarism and Misconduct

All submitted manuscripts are screened for plagiarism using appropriate detection tools. Manuscripts found to contain plagiarism, data falsification, redundant publication, or other forms of unethical behavior will be rejected or retracted as necessary.

6. Corrections, Retractions, and Complaints

The journal is committed to maintaining the integrity of the scholarly record. If errors or ethical issues are identified after publication, ASDJ will issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern in accordance with COPE guidelines. Complaints and appeals related to editorial decisions or ethical concerns will be handled transparently and fairly.

7. Ethical Oversight

Research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data must comply with relevant ethical standards and regulations. Authors must provide evidence of ethical approval where applicable and ensure that informed consent has been obtained.