About the Journal

1. Focus and scope
América is a journal articulated to the academic production of the graduate courses in Escola da Cidade. It aims to promote researches and scientific practices that are of relevance to the Architecture and Urbanism field, as well as related areas, in the widest sense. Therefore, it constitutes a space for academic discussion and refection.

The journal welcomes the submission of unpublished scientific articles and unbuilt projects, both peer-reviewed through the blind refereeing system. In this sense, the journal seeks to contribute to the understanding of architectural projects as research and its academic relevance. The publication stands for open access and accepts submissions in Portuguese, Spanish, and English.

América also sets out to disseminate discussions undertaken in Escola da Cidade’s graduate courses, published in the Post-Graduate Dossier section, which does not accept submissions. 

2. Peer Review Process
América operates a blind peer review process through its scientific editorial boards and ad hoc reviewers.

All submissions of articles and projects are initially assessed by the Executive Editorial Board, who decides whether or not the article fits the scope of the journal and its sections according to its guidelines and policies. Submissions considered suitable by the Executive Editorial Board are then assigned to internationally recognized experts, members of the Scientific Editorial Board of Articles and of Projects or, yet, on an ad hoc basis, to peer review the paper.

Based on the reports reviewers of articles will accept, reject, or accept them with minor or major revisions, whereas reviewers of projects will only make a recommendation for acceptance or rejection for publication. Submissions will be passed on to at least two reviewers. In case of discrepancy, a third reviewer will be assigned. These criteria are set to ensure transparency and best practice through peer review process.

In all cases, authors will be informed of the evaluation process by receiving an anonymous copy of the reviewer report. The blind peer-review refereeing system is set to ensure an unbiased, high-quality assessment. Overall editorial responsibility of accepting the material rests with the Executive Editorial Board, supported by the reviewers’ recommendations.

3. Publication Frequency
Every four months / Published in both electronic (ISSN: 2675-9926) and printed (ISSN: 1982-1212) versions. Available online on OJS (Open Journal Systems).

4. Open Access Policy
América provides immediate open access to its online content on the principle that making research freely available to the public supports a greater global exchange of knowledge.

5. Copyright
This journal is released under the open license Creative Commons Attribution - Non Commercial – Share Alike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0). Authors of published articles or projects remain the copyright holders. Revista América requires that all submitted articles be unpublished. Authors have the right to promote their articles as convenient and are only asked to cite Revista América. As an open access journal Revista América grants third parties the right to reproduce its content if appropriately cited or quoted.

6. Research Integrity
This journal complies with ethical guidelines on the process of its publication. Under no circumstances, plagiarism or any other unethical behavior will be accepted. This statement is based on the recommendations of Elsevier and the Committee on Publication Ethics – COPE’s Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors (http://publicationethics.org/resources/guidelines).

6.1. Ethical Principles
Editor or Editorial Board’s decisions are independent of commercial influence or any other revenue source. América complies with intellectual standards and ethical principles, and it is willing publish corrections, clarifications, retractions and apologies whenever necessary. Editors will promptly address objections regarding ethical misconducts in a submitted manuscript or published article, so corrections or retractions may be further made.

6.2. Editors Responsibilities
6.2.1. Publication decisions
The responsible editors strictly support their decision on whether to accept or not submitted material on this journal’s policies and guidelines, which must comply with legal requirements currently in force on defamation, copyright infringement and plagiarism.

6.2.2. Transparency and respect
Editors must assess all submitted manuscripts irrespective of race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion or belief, ethnic origin, nationality or political philosophy of the authors.

6.2.3. Confidentiality
Editors must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and editorial boards.

6.2.4. Disclosure and conflicts of interest
Editors should not consider manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest resulting from collaborative, competitive, or other relationships or connections with any of the authors, companies, or institutions connected to the submitted material. The Editor-in-Chief may consult with the Executive Editorial Board in making this decision.

6.2.5. Involvement and cooperation in investigations
Editors must implement responsive measures when concerns about ethical misconducts in a published article or submitted manuscript are raised.

6.3. Reviewers Responsibilities
6.3.1. Confidentiality
Any manuscript received for review is a confidential document and must be treated as such; they must not be shown to or discussed with others.

6.3.2. Disclosure and conflicts of interest
Privileged information or ideas obtained through peer review of the manuscripts must be kept confidential and not used for the reviewer’s personal advantage.

6.3.3. Acknowledgement of sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published works that have not been cited by the authors. The reviewer must also notify the editors of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript under consideration and any other published manuscript of which they have personal knowledge.

6.4. Author Responsibilities
6.4.1. Originality and plagiarism
Authors should ensure that they appropriately cite or quote work and/or words of others. Editorial plagiarism in any form consists of unethical and reprehensible conduct.

6.4.2. Authorship
Authorship should be limited to those who have made a significant contribution to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the submitted research. All those who have made significant contributions should be listed as co-authors. Any other participation in the research project in a substantive way should be acknowledged as contributors. The corresponding author should ensure that all appropriate co-authors are credited in the article. Moreover, the corresponding author should certify that all co-authors have seen and approved the final version of the manuscript and have agreed to its submission for publication.

6.4.3. Multiple, redundant or concurrent publication
The author must not publish manuscripts describing essentially the same research in more than one journal or other publication.

6.4.4. Acknowledgement of sources
Authors must cite publications that have been influential in determining the nature of the work. The work of other authors must be properly acknowledged. Information obtained on a conversation, correspondence or discussion should be only used by explicit written permission of the source. In case authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their own published work, it is their obligation to promptly notify the journal’s editors and cooperate with them to correct the article.