In the current era, artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced language models have become powerful tools in scientific and research fields. With their unique capabilities in natural language processing, data analysis, and content generation, these technologies enable the acceleration and improvement of scientific article writing processes. The Journal of Sustainable City , in line with its mission to advance knowledge and promote sustainable urban development, welcomes the ethical and responsible use of these technologies to enhance the quality of articles and facilitate research processes.
The use of AI in preparing articles may include various stages such as data collection and analysis, initial text generation, editing, and content optimization. However, it is essential to note that these tools serve as complements—not replacements—for researchers' creativity and expertise. Authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the information presented, and the final responsibility for the content of articles rests with them.
These guidelines are formulated to provide necessary guidance for the ethical and effective use of AI and language models in article preparation, enabling researchers to benefit from AI's advantages without compromising the originality and scientific quality of their work.
Researchers may use AI models to improve linguistic quality, editing, grammatical correction, clarity enhancement, and structural organization of articles.
The use of these tools in initial writing stages—such as idea generation, brainstorming, outlining, and quick searches for related concepts or resources—is acceptable as research aids.
The generation of research data, simulation of results, scientific analyses, and final conclusions must be conducted exclusively by the researcher using valid scientific methods.
Using AI to generate hypothetical data, distort or fabricate results, interpret findings, or conduct independent analyses is unacceptable and constitutes a clear violation of research ethics.
If AI is used to assist in generating abstracts, images, charts, or preliminary data processing, full transparency must be maintained in the "Methods" section.
Authors are required to transparently declare any use of AI tools (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, etc.) in the preparation of the article.
This disclosure may be included in the “Acknowledgments” section or under a separate heading such as “AI Tools Use Statement.” This section should briefly describe the type of tool, version, purpose of use (e.g., language editing, sentence rewriting, structuring), and the affected parts of the article.
Final verification of all AI-generated or AI-modified content, citation checks, and ensuring the absence of errors or inconsistencies remain the responsibility of the authors.
The use of AI as an aid in the initial search and screening of scientific resources is permitted.
However, final validation, quality assessment, and selection of resources must be performed by the researcher based on reliable databases. Authors are responsible for avoiding citations to unreliable or synthetically generated sources.
The core of the research—including problem formulation, study design, field or laboratory data collection, in-depth analysis, and final conclusions—must originate from the researcher’s expertise and judgment.
AI should not become a factor that diminishes the researcher’s active and critical role in the knowledge production process.
Authors be
ar full and unconditional responsibility for the article’s content (including parts generated or modified with AI assistance) regarding accuracy, originality, research ethics compliance, and intellectual property rights.
The journal does not recognize AI as an author of the article. In accordance with authoritative statements such as those from COPE, these tools lack the ethical and legal capacity for authorship.Conclusion
The Sustainable City Journal, in alignment with its commitment to promoting sustainable and equitable urban development, supports the prudent and ethical application of emerging technologies, including AI, in scientific research and writing. We emphasize that any use of these tools must enhance—not undermine—the originality, analytical depth, and practical relevance of urban studies research.
We believe that sustainable cities are products of critical thinking, human creativity, and responsible interaction with the environment and society. Therefore, AI should serve not as a replacement for these human processes but as a supportive tool for analyzing complex urban data, modeling development scenarios, improving reporting transparency, and enriching the conceptual depth of scientific texts. Adherence to principles of transparency, protection of urban and demographic data privacy, and avoidance of reinforcing social or environmental biases in AI outputs are imperative.
We invite authors and researchers to strictly follow the provided guidelines, leveraging the benefits of AI while upholding research originality, social responsibility, and professional ethics. Only through such commitment can we advance knowledge that contributes not only to the physical sustainability of cities but also to social justice, resilience, and the quality of urban life.
Publishing articles prepared in accordance with this framework will be a fundamental step in strengthening the journal’s scientific credibility and advancing the discourse on sustainable urban development at both national and international levels.