Submission Guidelines and Manuscript Preparation

ACEE offers a transparent, step-by-step process for submission and manuscript preparation—designed to support authors in civil and environmental engineering. Prior planning and formatting according to the following guidance will enhance efficiency during peer review and production.

Submission Workflow

The submission process is divided into three clear stages to ensure clarity and compliance:

  1. Prepare manuscript and all required materials.
  2. Submit via the online portal with author declarations and metadata.
  3. Follow peer review, revision, and final publication steps.

Manuscript Formatting

  • File format: Submit manuscripts in Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx) or LaTeX formats.
  • Page layout: Single-column, double-spaced, with 1-inch margins, continuous line numbering.
  • Font: Use professional typeface (e.g. Times New Roman or Segoe UI), 10–12 pt size.
  • Title page: Include full title (≤12 words), author names, affiliations, corresponding author’s email and ORCID, and a running head (≤50 characters).
  • Abstract and keywords: 150–300 words abstract, no references or lists; provide 5–7 keywords.
  • Section headings: Use structured sections—Introduction; Methods; Results; Discussion; Conclusions.
  • Tables, figures, and equations: Number consecutively with descriptive captions; images should be ≥300 dpi.
  • References: Use author-date citation style, alphabetically ordered in the reference list. Ensure completeness with DOIs when available.

Ethical & Legal Declarations

  • Include conflict of interest and funding disclosure statements.
  • Provide ethics committee approvals or permit documentation for human or environmental fieldwork.
  • Indicate prior presentation or preprint dissemination, clarifying overlap if present.

Supplementary Materials & Data Sharing

Submit raw data, computation files, additional figures, or appendices as separate downloadable files linked from the manuscript text. Supplementary materials enhance transparency, reproducibility, and research integrity.

Post-Submission Expectations

  • Initial editorial screening decision is typically provided within 1–2 weeks.
  • Peer review generally concludes within 4–6 weeks, and timelines are communicated transparently.
  • If revision is requested, submit a revised manuscript along with a point-by-point response.
  • Upon final acceptance, an APC invoice is issued and publication proceeds after payment.

Manuscript Types & Word Limits

  • Original Research Articles: 4,000–8,000 words including references.
  • Review Articles: 6,000–10,000 words with comprehensive literature synthesis.
  • Short Communications: Up to 2,500 words presenting focused findings.
  • Case Studies & Perspectives: 3,000–5,000 words, with emphasis on practical implications or strategic insights.