Submissions

Author Guidelines

Instructions for Authors

Introduction

Thank you for considering the Revista Ingeniería de Obras Civiles (RIOC) as the venue for publishing your research.

These Instructions for Authors describe the editorial policies, manuscript preparation requirements, submission procedures, and publication standards adopted by RIOC. Authors are strongly encouraged to read this guide carefully before submitting a manuscript to ensure compliance with the journal's requirements and to facilitate an efficient editorial and peer-review process.

RIOC is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal dedicated to publishing high-quality research that contributes to the advancement of civil engineering and construction. The journal provides immediate open access to all published articles and does not charge submission fees or Article Processing Charges (APCs). RIOC is committed to scientific integrity, editorial excellence, transparency throughout the publication process, and the broad dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge.

These instructions are periodically reviewed and updated to reflect international standards and best practices in scholarly publishing. Authors should always consult the latest version available on the journal website before submitting a manuscript.

1. Before You Submit

Before submitting a manuscript, authors should ensure that their work complies with the editorial policies of RIOC and meets the scope and quality standards of the journal. Careful preparation before submission contributes to a faster editorial evaluation and reduces unnecessary delays during peer review.

1.1 Scope of the Journal

RIOC publishes high-quality scientific contributions in the broad field of civil engineering and construction. The journal welcomes manuscripts addressing theoretical developments, experimental research, numerical modeling, field studies, methodological advances, and comprehensive literature reviews that contribute to scientific and technological progress within the discipline.

The journal welcomes submissions in, but is not limited to, the following areas:

• Construction Materials;
• Structural Engineering;
• Geotechnical Engineering;
• Transportation and Pavement Engineering;
• Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering;
• Construction Management;
• Building Engineering;
• Building Physics;
• Energy Efficiency in Buildings;
• Sustainable Construction;
• Digital Technologies in Civil Engineering;
• Infrastructure Engineering.

1.2 Originality

Submitted manuscripts must represent original work that has not been previously published and is not simultaneously under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Authors are responsible for ensuring the originality of their work and for properly acknowledging all sources used during the preparation of the manuscript. Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, and any other form of academic misconduct are considered unacceptable and may result in rejection of the manuscript or retraction after publication.

1.3 Language

RIOC accepts manuscripts written in English.

To increase the international visibility of published articles, all manuscripts must include the following information in both English and Spanish:

• Title;
• Abstract;
• Keywords.

Authors whose native language is not English are strongly encouraged to have their manuscripts reviewed by a proficient English speaker prior to submission.

1.4 Article Types

RIOC publishes the following categories of manuscripts:

1.4.1 Original Research Articles

Original Research Articles present novel scientific or technological contributions based on original research. Manuscripts should clearly describe the objectives, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusions, providing sufficient information to ensure scientific reproducibility.

1.4.2 Review Articles

Review Articles provide comprehensive and critical analyses of the current state of knowledge on topics relevant to civil engineering and construction. Reviews should synthesize recent advances, identify research gaps, and provide perspectives for future investigations. Systematic reviews are particularly encouraged when appropriate.

1.5 Open Access Policy

RIOC is an open-access journal. All published articles are freely available immediately upon publication without subscription or access restrictions, promoting the unrestricted dissemination of scientific knowledge.

1.6 Publication Fees

RIOC does not charge authors any fees for manuscript submission, peer review, article processing, or publication. No Article Processing Charges (APCs) are required.

1.7 Final Checklist Before Submission

Before submitting your manuscript, please verify that:

☐ The manuscript has been prepared using the latest RIOC template.

☐ The manuscript is within the scope of the journal.

☐ The manuscript has not been submitted elsewhere.

☐ The title, abstract and keywords are provided in English and Spanish.

☐ ORCID identifiers have been included for all authors.

☐ Figures and tables are cited correctly.

☐ References follow the RIOC citation style.

☐ All required statements have been included.

☐ The manuscript has been proofread.

2. Preparing Your Manuscript

Authors must prepare their manuscripts using the official RIOC manuscript template, available on the journal website. The template provides detailed formatting instructions and includes all mandatory sections required for submission.

The editorial office strongly recommends using the template from the beginning of the writing process. Manuscripts that do not follow the official template may be returned to the authors for formatting corrections before entering peer review.

2.1 Official RIOC Template

All manuscripts must be prepared using the latest version of the official RIOC template.

The template includes detailed guidance on:

• Title page;
• Author information and affiliations;
• ORCID identifiers;
• Abstract and keywords;
• Manuscript structure;
• Figures, tables, and equations;
• References;
• Required editorial statements.

Authors should not modify the predefined styles or formatting included in the template unless explicitly indicated.

2.2 Manuscript Structure

Original Research Articles should generally include the following sections:

• Title Page;
• Abstract;
• Keywords;
• Introduction;
• Materials and Methods;
• Results and Discussion;
• Conclusions;
• CRediT Authorship Contribution Statement;
• Funding;
• Institutional Review Board Statement (when applicable);
• Data Availability Statement;
• Acknowledgments;
• Use of Artificial Intelligence Statement;
• Conflicts of Interest;
• References.

Review Articles may adopt a more flexible structure appropriate to the topic under consideration while maintaining a logical organization and including all applicable editorial statements.

2.3 Language Requirements

Manuscripts should be written in clear, concise, and grammatically correct scientific English. Authors are responsible for the linguistic quality of the submitted manuscript.

Regardless of the manuscript language accepted by the journal, the title, abstract, and keywords must always be provided in both English and Spanish.

The editorial office reserves the right to request language revision before the manuscript proceeds to peer review when language quality significantly affects readability.

2.4 Figures, Tables, and Equations

Figures, tables, and equations should be prepared following the recommendations provided in the official RIOC template.

All figures and tables must be cited in numerical order within the text and accompanied by informative captions. Equations should be editable, sequentially numbered when appropriate, and prepared using the equation editor available in Microsoft Word.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to reproduce any copyrighted material included in their manuscripts.

2.5 References

RIOC uses a numerical citation system.

References must be cited consecutively in the order of their first appearance in the manuscript using square brackets (e.g., [1], [2], or [3–5]).

Authors are encouraged to use reference management software such as Zotero, EndNote, or Mendeley to ensure consistency and accuracy.

Whenever available, Digital Object Identifiers (DOIs) should be included for all references.

2.6 Supplementary Material (Optional)

Authors may submit supplementary material that supports the scientific content of the manuscript but is not essential for understanding the main text.

Examples include:

• Additional figures;
• Extended datasets;
• Computational models;
• Video files;
• Experimental protocols;
• Computer code.

Supplementary material will be reviewed together with the manuscript and, when accepted, will be published alongside the final article whenever technically feasible.

3. Editorial Process

All manuscripts submitted to RIOC undergo a rigorous editorial evaluation designed to ensure scientific quality, originality, methodological soundness, and relevance to the journal's scope. The editorial process is conducted confidentially, impartially, and according to internationally recognized principles of good editorial practice.

The editorial process consists of the following stages:

3.1 Initial Submission

Manuscripts must be submitted through the journal's online submission system. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all required files, metadata, and declarations have been completed prior to submission.

3.2 Editorial Screening

Upon submission, each manuscript undergoes an initial evaluation by the Editor-in-Chief or an assigned editor.

During this stage, the manuscript is assessed to determine whether it:

• Falls within the scope of the journal;
• Complies with the journal's editorial policies;
• Has been prepared using the official RIOC template;
• Meets minimum standards of scientific quality and presentation;
• Includes all required editorial statements.

Manuscripts that do not satisfy these requirements may be returned to the authors for correction before entering peer review.

3.3 Peer Review

Manuscripts that successfully pass the editorial screening are submitted to external peer review.

RIOC applies a double-blind peer-review process, in which the identities of both authors and reviewers remain anonymous throughout the review process.

Reviewers evaluate manuscripts based on criteria including:

• Scientific originality;
• Technical quality;
• Methodological rigor;
• Relevance to the field;
• Clarity of presentation;
• Validity of the conclusions.

The Editor-in-Chief may invite one or more independent reviewers with expertise relevant to the submitted manuscript.

3.4 Editorial Decision

After considering the reviewers' reports, the Editor-in-Chief makes the final editorial decision.

When reviewers provide conflicting recommendations, additional reviewers may be invited before a final decision is reached.

Authors are notified of the editorial decision together with the reviewers' comments.

3.5 Revision

When revisions are requested, authors should submit:

• A revised version of the manuscript;
• A detailed response letter addressing each reviewer comment individually.

Authors are encouraged to explain clearly how each comment has been addressed. When a recommendation cannot be implemented, a scientific justification should be provided.

Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers for further evaluation when considered necessary by the Editor-in-Chief.

3.6 Acceptance and Production

Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, it enters the production stage.

During this stage, the manuscript undergoes copyediting, layout preparation, final proofreading, metadata verification, DOI assignment, and publication scheduling before being published online.

The editorial office may contact the corresponding author if additional information is required during production.

4. Editorial Decisions

Following peer review, one of the following editorial decisions may be issued.

4.1 Accept

The manuscript is accepted for publication without further scientific revision. Minor editorial corrections may still be requested during the production stage.

4.2 Minor Revision

The manuscript requires limited revisions before it can be accepted for publication. Authors should address the reviewers' comments and submit a revised manuscript together with a response letter.

4.3 Major Revision

The manuscript requires substantial revisions before a final editorial decision can be made. Revised manuscripts may undergo an additional round of peer review.

A request for major revision does not guarantee eventual acceptance.

4.4 Reject

The manuscript is not suitable for publication in RIOC in its current form.

Reasons for rejection may include, but are not limited to:

• Insufficient scientific originality;
• Methodological weaknesses;
• Lack of relevance to the journal's scope;
• Inadequate scientific quality;
• Failure to comply with the journal's ethical or editorial policies.

The editorial decision of the Editor-in-Chief is final.

The editorial office is committed to conducting fair, objective, timely, and confidential evaluations throughout the review process.

5. Publication Ethics

RIOC is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and research integrity. Authors, reviewers, and editors are expected to conduct all stages of the publication process in accordance with internationally recognized principles of ethical scholarly publishing.

The journal encourages responsible research practices and follows the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) whenever applicable.

5.1 Originality and Duplicate Submission

Submitted manuscripts must represent original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Simultaneous submission of the same manuscript to multiple journals is considered unethical and is not permitted.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all submitted work is original and appropriately cites previous publications.

5.2 Plagiarism

RIOC has zero tolerance for plagiarism in any form.

Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to:

• Copying text, figures, tables, or ideas without appropriate attribution;
• Presenting another person's work as one's own;
• Excessive copying from previously published literature;
• Improper paraphrasing without citation.

RIOC may use plagiarism detection software during the editorial process whenever considered necessary by the Editor-in-Chief.

Manuscripts containing evidence of plagiarism may be rejected immediately.

5.3 Self-Plagiarism

Authors should avoid extensive reuse of their own previously published material without proper citation.

Any overlap with earlier publications should be clearly identified and scientifically justified.

5.4 Authorship

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made substantial scientific contributions to the work.

All listed authors should have:

• Contributed significantly to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study;
• Participated in drafting or critically revising the manuscript;
• Approved the final version;
• Agreed to be accountable for the integrity of the work.

Individuals who contributed to the study but do not meet these criteria should be acknowledged appropriately rather than listed as authors.

5.5 Changes in Authorship

Requests to add, remove, or rearrange authors after manuscript submission must be justified and approved by all authors involved.

The Editor-in-Chief reserves the right to request additional documentation before approving authorship changes.

Changes in authorship after acceptance will only be considered under exceptional circumstances.

5.6 Research Involving Humans or Animals

Research involving human participants or animals must comply with applicable ethical standards and institutional regulations.

Where required, manuscripts must include:

• The name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board;
• The approval number or reference code;
• A statement confirming that informed consent was obtained when applicable.

The Editor-in-Chief may request additional documentation during the editorial process.

5.7 Conflicts of Interest

Authors, reviewers, and editors should disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence the interpretation or evaluation of the research.

Potential conflicts of interest should be declared transparently, even when they are not considered to have affected the work.

5.8 Research Integrity

Fabrication, falsification, manipulation of data, image manipulation, citation manipulation, and any other form of scientific misconduct are considered serious violations of publication ethics.

When evidence of misconduct is identified before or after publication, RIOC reserves the right to investigate the case and implement appropriate editorial actions, including manuscript rejection, publication of corrections, retractions, or notification of the relevant institutions when necessary.

6. Required Statements

To promote transparency and reproducibility, all manuscripts submitted to RIOC must include the editorial statements applicable to the type of research being reported.

These statements should be included immediately after the Conclusions section and before the References, following the order established in the official RIOC manuscript template.

6.1 CRediT Authorship Contribution Statement

For manuscripts involving multiple authors, individual contributions must be reported using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) system.

6.2 Funding

Authors must disclose all sources of financial support related to the research.

If the study did not receive external funding, the following statement should be included:

"This research received no external funding."

6.3 Institutional Review Board Statement

Studies involving humans, animals, or other research requiring ethical approval must identify the approving ethics committee together with the corresponding approval number.

If ethical approval was not required, authors should clearly indicate this.

6.4 Data Availability Statement

Authors are encouraged to make the data supporting their findings publicly available whenever possible.

The Data Availability Statement should indicate where the data can be accessed or explain why access is restricted.

6.5 Acknowledgments

Authors may acknowledge individuals or institutions that contributed to the work but do not meet the criteria for authorship.

Administrative, technical, or financial support may also be recognized in this section.

6.6 Use of Artificial Intelligence Statement

Authors must disclose any use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) during the preparation of the manuscript.

The use of AI-assisted tools for language editing, grammar correction, spelling, or formatting does not require disclosure.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted content, regardless of whether artificial intelligence tools were used.

6.7 Conflicts of Interest

All authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest.

If no conflicts exist, the following statement should be included:

"The authors declare no conflicts of interest."

Examples of all required statements are provided in the official RIOC manuscript template.

7. Copyright and Open Access

RIOC is an open-access journal committed to the broad dissemination of scientific knowledge. All articles are made freely available immediately after publication without subscription or access restrictions.

Authors retain the copyright of their work and grant RIOC the right of first publication. Articles are published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work and its first publication in RIOC are properly cited.

Authors may deposit the published version of their article in institutional repositories, personal websites, or other non-commercial platforms, provided that the original publication in RIOC is clearly acknowledged.

Additional information regarding copyright and licensing is available on the journal website.

8. After Acceptance

Once a manuscript has been accepted for publication, it enters the production stage.

During this stage, the manuscript undergoes copyediting, layout preparation, metadata verification, DOI registration, and final proofreading before publication.

The corresponding author will receive the final proofs for review. Only minor typographical or formatting corrections should be made at this stage. Substantial modifications to the scientific content are generally not permitted after acceptance.

Following completion of the production process, the article will be published in the corresponding issue of RIOC and made immediately available through the journal's website under the journal's open-access policy.

9. Contact

Questions regarding manuscript preparation, submission, or the editorial process should be directed to the editorial office.

Revista Ingeniería de Obras Civiles (RIOC)

E-mail: rioc@ufrontera.cl

Journal Website: https://rioc.ufro.cl

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Document History

Version 1.0

First official edition.

July 2026.