1. General Principles

The Space for Life proceedings of the conference Landscape – Settlements – Monuments (hereinafter referred to as “the Proceedings”) are committed to upholding the highest ethical standards in academic publishing. The editorial board and the organising committee acknowledge their responsibility for ensuring the integrity of the scholarly record.

2. Authorship and Contributorship

Authorship is granted only to individuals who have made a significant intellectual contribution to the work. All authors must approve the final version of the paper and take responsibility for its content. Any change to authorship (addition, removal, or rearrangement of authors) after acceptance must be approved by the Editor and all listed authors.

3. Peer Review Process

All submissions undergo a two-stage double-blind peer review. In the first stage, the Organising Committee conducts a formal and thematic check to verify compliance with submission requirements and the conference scope. In the second stage, each paper is reviewed by two independent expert reviewers under a double-blind procedure assessing scholarly quality, originality, and contribution to the field. The review process is coordinated by the Organising Committee with an emphasis on impartiality, confidentiality, and transparency.

4. Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial or non-financial interests that could be perceived to influence the research or its interpretation. Such disclosures should be included in the manuscript upon submission.

5. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must submit original works that have not been previously published or simultaneously submitted elsewhere. The Organising and Scientific Committees verify originality and proper citation during the editorial and review stages. Plagiarism, unauthorized use of text or images, and duplicate publication are not tolerated. If plagiarism is suspected, the editorial team will investigate and may reject the submission or, if already published, retract the paper from the electronic proceedings. Authors bear full responsibility for compliance with copyright laws and accurate citation of all sources.

6. Data Integrity and Fabrication or Falsification

Authors must present their data truthfully and accurately. Any fabrication or falsification of data is considered research misconduct and may result in retraction of the article and notification of the author’s institution.

7. Use of generative AI / Policy on AI Tools 

Authors must disclose any use of generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT) in the preparation of the article. Editors and reviewers may use AI tools only transparently with disclosure. Undeclared use of AI that affects scientific quality may be considered a breach of ethics.

8. Handling of Allegations of Publication Misconduct

If an allegation of unethical conduct is raised, the editorial team will follow these steps:

• Acknowledgement of receipt: The complaint will be acknowledged within 14 calendar days.

• Preliminary assessment: The Editor will conduct an initial review within 30 days to determine whether a full investigation is warranted.

• Investigation: If justified, the authors and, where appropriate, their institutions will be contacted to gather evidence.

• Outcome and actions: Possible outcomes include issuing a correction, expression of concern, or retraction. All parties involved will be informed. If a retraction is necessary, a retraction notice will be published clearly stating the reason.

• Record keeping: All communications and decisions will be documented and archived.

9. Corrections and Retractions

Corrections (errata or corrigenda) are published when errors do not affect the validity of the findings. Retractions are issued when results are unreliable or misconduct is proven. Retraction notices are linked to the original article and include an explanation of the reason for retraction.

10. Responsibilities of Editors and Reviewers

Editors must manage the review process impartially and confidentially. Reviewers are required to maintain confidentiality, respond in a timely manner, and disclose any conflicts of interest.

11. Data Availability and Reproducibility

Authors are encouraged to make their data, code, and materials publicly available whenever possible, or to provide a clear justification when access cannot be granted.

12. Contact for Ethics Enquiries

For questions or to report suspected breaches of publishing ethics, please contact:

• Editor of the Proceedings: Adam Guzdek

• Email: info@krajinasidlapamatky.cz

• Postal address: Veveří 331/95, 602 00  Brno, Czech Republic

Policy version: 1.0 — Last updated: 31 October 2025