Author Guidelines

Submission Checklist

Before submitting your manuscript to Ingegneria Sismica, please ensure the following:

• ✅ Read the Aims & Scope of the journal to verify that your manuscript aligns with the subject areas covered.

• ✅ Prepare your manuscript using the journal’s official templates (Microsoft Word or LaTeX).

• ✅ Ensure compliance with ethical and technical standards, including:

  • Publication ethics and copyright;

  • Accurate authorship attribution;

  • Proper figure quality and formats;

  • Consistent formatting of references and data.

• ✅ Confirm that all listed authors:

  • Have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript;

  • Have read and agree to follow the journal’s Instructions for Authors.

Manuscript Submission Overview

Types of Publications

Ingegneria Sismica publishes high-quality, original research and comprehensive reviews in the fields of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Geotechnical Engineering, Civil and Structural Engineering, Building and Construction, and Risk and Safety Sciences.

We require that all submitted manuscripts include sufficient experimental and methodological detail to ensure reproducibility. Authors must provide full datasets and disclose all controls where applicable. Please refer to our [Supplementary Materials Guidelines] and instructions for citing unpublished data.

Manuscripts submitted to Ingegneria Sismica must not have been previously published, nor be under consideration elsewhere.

The main types of articles we publish include:

• Original Research Articles
  These should report scientifically sound investigations with clear and novel contributions to the field. Manuscripts must include up-to-date and relevant references. The recommended structure includes:
  Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions (optional).

• Review Articles
  Reviews should critically examine the state-of-the-art in a specific field, identifying gaps, trends, and future research directions. Reviews must not present new, unpublished data. The structure may include:
  Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Thematic Sections, Discussion, Conclusions, and Future Directions.

• Scoping Reviews
  These are welcome under the Review category. Scoping Reviews should follow the PRISMA-ScR guidelines (see: https://www.prisma-statement.org/scoping) and include the PRISMA flow diagram and checklist as supplementary files. We strongly recommend protocol registration on platforms like Open Science Framework or Inplasy, with registration details cited in the Methods section.

Submission Process

Manuscripts must be submitted through our email address. The submitting author (usually the corresponding author) will manage the submission and peer review process. Prior to submission, ensure the following:

• All listed authors qualify for authorship and approve the final version of the manuscript;

• Author contributions and ethical compliance are clearly indicated;

• The submission meets all formatting and policy requirements described in the [Instructions for Authors].

To submit, register or log in to our submission portal. Once registered, you can begin the submission process. All co-authors may access the manuscript details by registering with the email address used during submission.

Author Identification

Authors are encouraged to include a brief biography (300–1500 characters) and upload it to ORCID. A typical bio should include:

• Full name and current position;

• Educational background (institution and year of degree);

• Professional experience;

• Current and past research interests;

• Memberships and academic awards.

Once published, your ORCID will be linked to the article to enhance visibility and attribution.

Author Affiliation

Each author must list:

• Their current institutional affiliation;

• The affiliation where the majority of the work was carried out.

It is the responsibility of the submitting author to ensure accuracy in author names and affiliations. Corrections post-publication may not be possible due to indexing and citation implications.

Independent Researchers

If an author is not currently affiliated with a university, institution, or company—and was not affiliated during the research—they should be listed as an Independent Researcher.

Manuscript Preparation

General Considerations

Research manuscripts should include:

• Front matter: Title, Author list, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords.

• Main sections: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions (optional).

• Back matter: Supplementary Materials, Acknowledgments, Author Contributions, Conflicts of Interest, References.

Review manuscripts should include:

• Front matter: Title, Author list, Affiliations, Abstract, Keywords.

• Main sections: Literature review structured into sections and subsections.

• Back matter: Acknowledgments, Author Contributions, Conflicts of Interest, References.

Templates are available for both Microsoft Word and LaTeX.

Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses must follow the structure of research articles and conform to the PRISMA guidelines.

Graphical Abstract (GA)

A GA should:

• Be original and unpublished;

• Be in PNG, JPEG, or TIFF format;

• Have minimum dimensions of 560 × 1100 pixels (height × width);

• Contain clear, readable fonts (e.g., Times, Arial);

• Avoid copyrighted material, large text blocks, and blank spaces;

• Not duplicate any figure in the manuscript.

Abbreviations & Units

• Define all abbreviations on first use in the abstract, main text, and figures/tables.

• Use SI units throughout.

Equations

Use Microsoft Equation Editor or MathType; equations must be editable, not images.

Research Data & Supplementary Materials

All data, materials, and protocols must be available. Disclose any access restrictions at submission. See our Supplementary Materials Guidelines.

Preregistration

Include links to preregistered protocols if applicable.

Front Matter

Title: Concise and descriptive. No running titles.

Author List and Affiliations: Include full names and complete affiliations. Indicate the corresponding author and display all email addresses. Equal contributors should be marked with † and a note added.

Abstract (max 200 words): Single paragraph. Structure implicitly: background, methods, results, and conclusion. Must not contain unverified or exaggerated results.

Keywords: Three to ten relevant terms.

Main Sections

Introduction: Set the context and explain the purpose and importance of the work.

Materials and Methods: Sufficient detail to enable reproducibility. Include software, code availability, and GenAI disclosures.

Results: Describe findings concisely.

Discussion: Interpret findings in relation to the literature. Highlight limitations and future directions.

Conclusions: Optional, to summarize complex findings.

Patents: Optional section to list related patents.

Back Matter

Supplementary Materials: Name each element as Figure S1, Table S1, etc.

Author Contributions: Use CRediT taxonomy (e.g., Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing – Original Draft, etc.).

Funding: Declare funding sources, grant numbers, and APC support. If no funding: “This research received no external funding.”

Institutional Review Board Statement: Include IRB approval details, or state “Not applicable.”

Informed Consent Statement: Include if the study involved humans.

Data Availability Statement: Provide location of datasets or indicate “Not applicable.”

Acknowledgments: Mention technical, administrative, or GenAI support if applicable.

Conflicts of Interest: Declare any conflicts or state “The authors declare no conflict of interest.”

References: Numbered [1], [2] in order of appearance. Use ACS style:

• Journal Articles: Author 1, A.B.; Author 2, C.D. Title. Abbreviated J. Name Year, Volume, Page range.

• Books: Author 1, A. Title, 3rd ed.; Publisher: City, Country, Year.

• Chapters: Author 1, A. In Book Title, eds. Editors; Publisher: City, Country, Year; Volume, Pages.

• Theses: Author 1, A. Title. Level, University, Location, Year.

• Websites: Title of Site. Available online: URL (accessed on Day Month Year).

Use tools like EndNote or Zotero. All citations in supplementary files must appear in the main reference list.

Preparing Figures, Schemes, and Tables

Ingegneria Sismica accepts and publishes high-quality figures, schemes, and tables as part of articles or as supplementary materials. Multimedia files are also supported and may be included. Please contact the Editorial Office for further assistance regarding multimedia content.

Below are the detailed guidelines for preparing visual and tabular elements:

1. Resolution, Colour, and Format

• Figures and schemes must be submitted in a single compressed (.zip) folder during submission, with each image in high resolution (preferably no less than 600 dpi) in PNG, JPEG, or TIFF format.

• Authors are encouraged to submit figures and schemes in colour (RGB, 8-bit per channel). There is no additional fee for colour graphics.

• Images should be flattened and final; editable components should be avoided to prevent distortion during typesetting.

• All tables must include explanatory column headings. For large tables, a minimum font size of 8 pt. is acceptable. Use the “Table” tool in Microsoft Word to construct tables (avoid using tabs or spaces).

2. Order and Placement

• All figures, schemes, and tables should be:

  • Inserted into the manuscript near their first citation.

  • Numbered sequentially by order of appearance (e.g., Figure 1, Scheme 1, Table 1).

  • Referenced appropriately within the text.

3. Content and Style

• Use English for all figure/table text and ensure mathematical symbols are formatted correctly (e.g., minus signs (−) instead of em dashes (—); decimal points instead of commas).

• Ensure all characters are visible; masked or partially visible characters, watermarks, or red underlines should be removed.

• Use commas for numbers with five or more digits (e.g., 10,000 instead of 10000).

• All visual elements must be accompanied by a brief, descriptive title and a detailed caption explaining all symbols and annotations (e.g., *, **, #).

• Clearly define special notations in the caption (e.g., p < 0.05, p < 0.01).

4. Copyright and Permissions

• If figures, schemes, or tables are reproduced or adapted from previously published materials, authors must determine and secure the necessary copyright permissions.

• Include a copyright statement in the figure/table caption where applicable.
  Example: “Reprinted/adapted from [Reference], with permission from [Publisher].”

Supplementary Materials, Data Deposit, and Software Source Code

Data Policy

Ingegneria Sismica supports open scientific communication and encourages authors to follow best practices in sharing and archiving research data. Authors are urged to share any relevant data—including protocols, methods, raw and processed datasets, software, code, algorithms, and study materials—to promote transparency, reproducibility, and reusability of their research.

Data should adhere to the FAIR principles: Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable. Authors should deposit their datasets in trusted repositories to allow for broad access and reuse (see the Data Preservation section below). If public sharing is not possible, authors should state the reason in the Data Availability Statement and indicate how the data may be accessed on request. Relevant materials required to replicate the results should be described in the Materials and Methods section.

This policy applies to all data underlying the findings presented in the article and follows the TOP Guidelines for transparency and openness in science.

Where ethical, legal, or privacy concerns exist, data should not be shared. In such cases, authors must disclose the nature of the restrictions and confirm that data use complies with participant consent and relevant regulations.

If data access is restricted due to commercial sensitivity or third-party control, this must be explicitly stated. Data must be made available for peer review if necessary, under confidentiality agreements.

Although some institutions require data to be retained for a specific period, Ingegneria Sismica encourages authors to preserve their data for at least five years post-publication.

Data Availability Statements

Authors must include a Data Availability Statement with every manuscript. Below are recommended examples:

Data Preservation

Authors are advised to archive datasets using reliable repositories that provide:

• Persistent identifiers (e.g., DOIs);

• Long-term preservation of content;

• Public accessibility without login barriers;

• Support for open licenses (e.g., CC0, CC-BY).

If original repositories become unavailable, authors may be asked to re-deposit their data and notify the editorial office.

Trusted repositories can be found via:

• re3data.org

• fairsharing.org

Software and Source Code

If new software or code was developed, authors should:

• Deposit it in an established repository (e.g., GitHub, Zenodo);

• Include a DOI or repository link in the manuscript;

• Clearly identify software name and version.

Supplementary Material

Authors may upload additional content (e.g., datasets, videos, tables) during submission as “Supplementary Files.” These files are reviewed alongside the manuscript. While any format is acceptable, common, open-access formats are preferred. 

Unpublished Data

Avoid using “data not shown.” All relevant data should be included in the main text or supplementary material. References to data “in preparation” or “submitted” must be cited and included in the reference list. “Personal communication” should also be cited accordingly.

Large Datasets & Remote Hosting

Large datasets (files >60MB) should be hosted using external data services or institutional repositories that support persistent links (DOIs, handles). The manuscript should include:

• Repository name;

• Dataset URL or DOI;

• Accession number (if applicable).

References in Supplementary Files

Any references included in supplementary materials must also be listed in the main manuscript’s reference list.

Research and Publication Ethics

Ethical Oversight for Research Studies

All submissions to Ingegneria Sismica must demonstrate strict adherence to ethical standards across all research activities, particularly those involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data. Authors bear full responsibility for ensuring their work complies with relevant institutional, national, and international guidelines.

Human Subject Research

Studies involving human participants, personal data, tissue samples, or related materials must comply with the Declaration of Helsinki (2013 revision). Prior approval from a recognized Institutional Review Board (IRB) or equivalent ethics committee is mandatory. The manuscript must include a clear statement identifying the ethics committee, approval number, and date of authorization under the heading “Institutional Review Board Statement.”

Example:
“The study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the Ethics Committee of [Institution], under approval code [XXX] on [date].”

For non-interventional studies such as surveys or interviews, participants must be fully informed about the research purpose, data use, anonymity, and any potential risks. Where approval was not required, a formal exemption should be cited along with the legal basis for it.

Informed Consent

A clear “Informed Consent Statement” must appear in the manuscript when human subjects are involved. Where personal identifiers, images, or videos are used, written consent for publication is essential. For verbal consent (e.g., ethnographic fieldwork), justification and the script used must be submitted alongside the manuscript.

Example Statements:

• “All participants provided written informed consent.”

• “Verbal consent was obtained due to [reason]; the script is available upon request.”

• “Consent for publication of identifiable data was obtained from all individuals involved.”

Personal identifiers should be avoided unless essential to the research. All identifying details must be anonymized wherever possible.

Research Involving Vulnerable Populations and Organ Donation

When working with vulnerable groups or transplant recipients/donors, authors must include an ethics statement and justification for the study design and participant selection. Any materials sourced from organ donations must have been obtained through legal and ethical channels. Studies involving data from unethical organ procurement practices will be automatically rejected.

Clinical Trials

Authors conducting clinical trials must register the study in a recognized registry (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov, WHO ICTRP) prior to participant enrollment. The registration ID, registry name, and date should be reported in the manuscript. For randomized controlled trials (RCTs), submission of a CONSORT 2010 checklist and flow diagram is required.

Animal Research

Research involving vertebrates or higher-order invertebrates must align with the 3Rs principle:

• Replacement: Use alternatives where possible

• Reduction: Minimize the number of animals used

• Refinement: Reduce harm and enhance welfare

Ethical approval must be obtained from an accredited animal care committee, and details (including approval number and date) must be disclosed in the manuscript. Housing, care, and any veterinary oversight should be clearly described. In studies involving client-owned animals, owner consent must also be recorded.

Ingegneria Sismica supports the ARRIVE guidelines for animal research reporting. Manuscripts may be rejected if the study design does not meet ethical expectations.

Use of Cell Lines

Authors must disclose the origin of all cell lines used. For de novo or gifted human cell lines, ethics committee approval and participant consent are required. Refer to existing literature or commercial sources for established cell lines.

Example:
“The [cell line name] was obtained from [source]. Use was approved by the Ethics Committee of [institution] under reference [XXX].”

Plant Studies

All experiments involving wild or cultivated plant material must comply with applicable laws and treaties, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity. For rare or non-model species, voucher specimens should be archived in a public herbarium or museum, including GPS data and collection dates. If collection of endangered species was necessary, justification should be included in the cover letter.

Dual Use Research

If the research has potential for misuse (e.g., biosecurity, nuclear, chemical, or military applications), authors must disclose this explicitly in the manuscript and cover letter. Submissions will be considered only if the potential benefits outweigh the risks, and all applicable laws are followed.

Sex and Gender Considerations

Authors are encouraged to follow the SAGER guidelines by accounting for sex and gender differences in their study design, analysis, and reporting. If no analysis was conducted, the rationale must be clearly stated.

Geopolitical Sensitivities

Ingegneria Sismica maintains a neutral stance regarding territorial and jurisdictional claims. Content that may raise geopolitical concerns will be evaluated carefully by the editorial team.

Publication Ethics

As a responsible journal committed to integrity and transparency, Ingegneria Sismica aligns with the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) principles.

Authors Must Ensure:

• Accurate and transparent reporting of methods, data, and findings.

• Full disclosure of any conflicts of interest or funding sources.

• Originality in all submitted content. All reused content must be cited, including reuse of an author’s own previous publications.

• All data and materials necessary for verification and replication should be available upon request.

• Previously published figures or tables must have permission for reuse under the CC BY license.

• Simultaneous submission to multiple journals is prohibited.

Misconduct

Plagiarism, data fabrication, image manipulation, ghost authorship, and improper citation practices will result in rejection or retraction. All submissions are screened using iThenticate. Authors must:

• Avoid manipulating images in ways that misrepresent the data (e.g., altering contrast, splicing gels).

• Clearly differentiate new and reused content.

• Retain all original data and documentation for verification.

Citation Standards

Citations should:

• Reflect genuine engagement with the cited work.

• Avoid excessive self-citation or citation of advertising content.

• Not reference works the author has not actually read.

Quotation marks and source citations are mandatory when using direct wording from other works, including one’s own.

Reviewer Suggestions

Authors submitting manuscripts to Ingegneria Sismica are encouraged to recommend three independent reviewers who possess expertise relevant to the subject matter of the paper. While the editorial team is not obligated to contact the nominated individuals, detailed contact information—including email address, institutional affiliation, phone number, and personal or lab webpage—is required for each suggested reviewer.

To ensure impartiality, please avoid proposing individuals who have collaborated or co-authored with any of the manuscript’s authors in the last three years. Reviewers from the same institution as any co-author are also ineligible. Members of the journal’s Editorial Board may be proposed if they meet the criteria. You may also suggest reviewers who are frequently cited within your manuscript.

Authorship Guidelines

Ingegneria Sismica upholds the authorship criteria outlined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Authors must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, data acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of the work. Additionally, authors must participate in drafting or critically revising the manuscript, approve the final version for submission, and accept accountability for the integrity of the content.

Contributors who do not meet all criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in a separate section. Any modifications to the list of authors post-submission must be approved in writing by all listed (and removed, if applicable) contributors. The corresponding author will act as the main liaison with the editorial office and is responsible for keeping co-authors informed throughout the review and publication process.

For further authorship principles, please refer to the ICMJE guidelines.

Editorial Integrity and Independence

Ingegneria Sismica adheres strictly to the principle of editorial independence. All decisions on manuscript acceptance are made by appointed academic editors without interference from the publisher or staff members. Editorial decisions are based exclusively on the manuscript’s scientific merit, the relevance and clarity of reviewers’ comments, and the quality of the author’s responses.

Editorial personnel, including editors, are not permitted to make decisions on their own submissions. Manuscripts submitted by editorial board members or staff will be handled by an independent editor and evaluated by external peer reviewers with no conflicts of interest.

Conflicts of Interest Disclosure

All authors are required to disclose any financial or non-financial interests that might be perceived to influence their research or the interpretation of findings. These may include affiliations, consultancies, stock ownership, funding, paid expert testimony, or personal relationships. Disclosures should be entered during the submission process or included using the Ingegneria Sismica conflict-of-interest form.

Each manuscript must contain a “Conflicts of Interest” section before the reference list. Example statements include:

• Conflicts of Interest: The authors declare no competing interests.

• Conflicts of Interest: Author X has received consulting fees from Y Corporation. Author Z holds shares in Company A.

Editorial Process and Peer Review

Initial Assessment
Upon submission, the editorial team conducts a preliminary review to confirm that the manuscript aligns with the journal’s scope and quality standards. If deemed suitable, the manuscript is forwarded to an academic editor for additional pre-review checks, including methodological soundness and topic relevance.

Peer Review Protocol
Qualified submissions proceed to peer review by at least two independent experts. Ingegneria Sismica employs a single-blind review system, where reviewers are aware of authors’ identities, but not vice versa. Author-suggested reviewers may be considered, subject to conflict-of-interest checks.

Review Outcomes
After peer review, the editorial decision may fall into one of the following categories:

• Accept with Minor Revisions: Minor changes are requested; authors are typically given five days to respond.

• Revise and Resubmit: Major modifications are required. A detailed response to reviewers is expected. Up to two major revision rounds are allowed.

• Reject with Invitation to Resubmit: The manuscript lacks sufficient data or clarity and requires substantial improvement prior to new submission.

• Reject: The article is not suitable for publication due to critical issues or lack of novelty.

All reviewer comments must be addressed individually, with clear justifications where disagreements arise.

Author Appeals

If a manuscript is rejected, authors may submit an appeal via email within three months of the decision. Appeals must include a full justification and a point-by-point reply to reviewers’ and editor’s comments. Appeals will be forwarded to a senior academic editor for evaluation. The final decision on appeals rests with the Editor-in-Chief and is not subject to further review.

Production and Publication

Once accepted, manuscripts are prepared for publication, including professional copyediting and formatting. Authors will have the opportunity to review proofs before final publication on the journal website. Substantive content changes at this stage are generally not permitted unless justified and reapproved by the editorial team.