Introduction
With the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence-based technologies and tools, significant opportunities and capacities have emerged for the production, processing, analysis, and enhancement of scientific content. The appropriate and informed use of these tools can play an important role in improving the quality, accuracy, and efficiency of research processes. However, uninformed or irresponsible use of such technologies may lead to challenges, including the generation or dissemination of inaccurate information, the creation and reproduction of biases resulting from training data, violations of research ethics, threats to research integrity, and risks to information confidentiality and security. Therefore, the use of artificial intelligence in scientific and research activities requires specialized knowledge, accuracy, critical evaluation, and adherence to ethical and professional principles.
In this regard, the Journal of Urban and Regional Sustainable Development Studies, as a scientific journal in the field of urban and regional planning and sustainable development, aims to enhance scientific quality, expand the frontiers of knowledge, and facilitate scholarly exchange in the dynamic field of sustainable urban and regional planning and management. Accordingly, the journal supports the ethical, responsible, and transparent use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools and large language models (LLMs) in the processes of research, academic writing, editing, and scientific content processing.
This approach is aligned with the “Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Research” issued by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (November 2025) and emphasizes adherence to the principles of research integrity, research accountability, transparency, confidentiality, and recognized standards of research and publication ethics.
Despite the considerable potential of artificial intelligence, the use of this technology must not replace researchers’ knowledge, expertise, critical thinking, judgment, or scientific responsibility. Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, scientific validity, verifiability, and final content of their manuscripts. Where AI tools are used in a substantive manner, authors are required to transparently disclose the type of tool used, its purpose, and the manner in which it was employed, and to carefully review and validate AI-generated outputs before incorporating them into their work.
Therefore, artificial intelligence tools may be used as research assistants and complementary tools in the research and academic writing process, provided that they do not replace the researcher’s critical thinking, creativity, expertise, or scientific judgment. The author(s) bear full responsibility for the originality, accuracy, scientific validity, quality, and ethical integrity of the manuscript.
The purpose of this guideline is to provide a clear framework for the effective, legitimate, responsible, and transparent use of artificial intelligence technologies, so that the potential benefits and capabilities of these technologies can be utilized while preserving the integrity, credibility, and scientific soundness of submitted manuscripts.
To screen and assess the potential use of artificial intelligence in submitted manuscripts and research reports, the journal may use specialized AI-generated content detection tools, including GPTZero, as one of the supplementary tools in the evaluation process. The results generated by such tools will not, by themselves, constitute sufficient grounds for determining research misconduct or rejecting a manuscript. Where significant indications are identified, the matter will be evaluated through human review, available evidence, and other relevant scientific and ethical criteria.
Authors are required to transparently disclose the type of AI tool used, its purpose, and the manner in which it was employed whenever AI has been used substantively in the research, analysis, writing, editing, or translation process. Failure to disclose significant use of AI, fabrication or falsification of data and references, presentation of inaccurate information, or any use of AI that compromises the integrity of the research will be considered inconsistent with the principles of research and publication ethics.
Key Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Artificial Intelligence
1. Artificial Intelligence as a Research Assistant and Editing Tool
Researchers may use artificial intelligence tools and models to improve language quality, perform linguistic and grammatical editing, enhance clarity and coherence, and organize the structure of manuscripts.
The use of such tools during the early stages of research and writing, including idea generation, brainstorming, developing an initial framework, and preliminary searches for relevant concepts and sources, is permitted as a research-support tool, provided that the outputs are reviewed and validated by the researcher.
2. Restrictions on the Use of Artificial Intelligence for Data Generation and Research Analysis
The generation, collection, and validation of primary research data, study design, interpretation of findings, and final conclusions must be conducted using valid scientific methods and under the direct responsibility of the researcher.
The use of artificial intelligence for fabricating or creating research data, manipulating or falsifying results, artificially generating evidence or findings, or presenting fabricated analyses as genuine research results is prohibited and constitutes a violation of research ethics.
The use of artificial intelligence tools for data processing, coding, preliminary data analysis, chart or image generation, or other research outputs may be permitted where appropriate, provided that their use is transparently disclosed and the resulting outputs are independently validated by the researcher.
Where AI is used in the generation or editing of abstracts, images, charts, code, or data processing, the nature and extent of such use must be disclosed in the appropriate section of the manuscript, such as the “Materials and Methods” or “AI Use Statement.”
3. Transparency and Disclosure Requirements
Authors are required to transparently disclose any substantive and material use of artificial intelligence tools, including ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, and similar technologies, in the preparation of the manuscript.
Such disclosure may be provided under a separate heading, such as an “Artificial Intelligence Use Statement.” This statement should briefly specify the type of tool used, and where applicable, its version or model, the purpose and manner of its use, and the sections of the manuscript affected.
Authors are responsible for the final review, verification, and validation of all content generated or modified with the assistance of AI, including references, citations, data, calculations, and the identification and correction of errors, inconsistencies, or fabricated information.
4. Use of Artificial Intelligence in Literature Searching and Screening
The use of artificial intelligence as a supportive tool for preliminary literature searches, identification of relevant sources, and initial screening of scientific literature is permitted.
However, the identification of original sources, final verification, qualitative assessment, and selection of references must be conducted by the researcher using reputable academic databases and scholarly sources.
Authors bear full responsibility for the accuracy of all citations and references and must refrain from citing fabricated, unreliable, or AI-generated sources without independent verification.
5. Preserving Research Independence and Originality
The core components of research, including problem formulation, study design, selection of research methods, collection of field or laboratory data, analysis and interpretation of findings, and final conclusions, must be based on the researcher’s knowledge, expertise, and scientific judgment.
The use of artificial intelligence must not diminish the active, critical, and creative role of the researcher in the process of knowledge production.
AI-generated outputs should be regarded as supporting content and must be critically evaluated for scientific validity, methodological soundness, factual accuracy, and ethical compliance before being incorporated into a manuscript.
6. Full Responsibility of Authors
Authors bear full responsibility for the content of their manuscripts, including sections that have been generated, translated, edited, or revised with the assistance of artificial intelligence. This responsibility includes accuracy, originality, scientific validity, compliance with research ethics, intellectual property rights, and the accuracy of citations and references.
The use of artificial intelligence does not diminish authors’ responsibility for the content of their manuscripts, and authors may not attribute errors or inaccurate content generated by AI tools to such tools as a means of avoiding responsibility.
Artificial intelligence tools and systems may not be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript, as they do not possess the scientific, ethical, or legal accountability required for authorship.
Authors are required to transparently disclose their use of artificial intelligence in accordance with the journal’s policies whenever such use is substantive and material.
Conclusion
The Journal of Urban and Regional Sustainable Development Studies, in accordance with its mission to advance knowledge and promote sustainable development, supports the intelligent, responsible, ethical, and transparent use of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, as complementary tools for facilitating and improving research and academic writing processes. However, the use of such technologies must always serve to preserve research originality, enhance analytical depth, strengthen scientific validity, and improve the practical relevance of urban and regional research.
Geographical sciences and urban and regional studies are grounded in critical thinking, creativity, scientific analysis, expert judgment, and responsible interaction with the environment and society. Accordingly, artificial intelligence should be used as a supportive and complementary tool rather than as a substitute for the researcher’s intellectual and scientific capabilities. When used in accordance with ethical and methodological requirements, AI can contribute to improving research quality in areas such as the analysis and processing of complex urban and regional data, development and evaluation of planning scenarios, improvement of the organization and transparency of scientific reporting, and enhancement of academic writing.
Adherence to the principles of transparency, research integrity, accountability, confidentiality, protection of the privacy of urban and demographic data, and awareness of potential biases in the use of artificial intelligence is an essential requirement of this policy. Regardless of the extent to which AI tools are used, the author(s) retain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, scientific validity, and ethical integrity of the manuscript.
The journal encourages authors and researchers to make informed and responsible use of the capabilities of artificial intelligence while maintaining the principles of research originality, social responsibility, and professional ethics throughout all stages of research and academic writing. The ultimate objective is to employ technology in the production of reliable and applicable knowledge capable of addressing contemporary urban and regional challenges and contributing to sustainable development, spatial and social justice, resilience, and improved quality of life for citizens.
Compliance with this framework and adherence to ethical principles in the use of artificial intelligence will not only strengthen the scientific community’s trust in the journal but also contribute to enhancing the credibility and quality of published articles and advancing the scholarly discourse on urban and regional sustainable development at both national and international levels.
