Author Guidelines

A submission needs to respond always to an call for papers. We will not handle spontaneous submissions. Having said that, you can always suggest a thematic issue. Articles will be double blinded peer reviewed.

A SPOOL article contains the following elements:

Title: The title makes clear what the article is about, in fact it is the shortest version of your article;

Subtitle: In case the author prefers a more ‘original’ title, a subtitle is added that sheds light on the article’s content;

Abstract: Ihe article begins with a 100/200 word abstract. The abstract helps a potential reader to understand if your article provides the information he/she is looking for. The abstract is also required for indexing purposes;

Full text: The full text of the article is 2500/5000 words long; context and innovations are part of the full text.

Context: Explain the broader spatial/societal context of your research or design;

Innovations: Explain the key innovations you have applied in your research or design;

Conclusions: The article finishes off with a short paragraph ‘conclusions’ that effectively summarizes the findings of the article (the answers to the research questions). 100/200 words should do;

Key words: Please provide 5/10 keywords. ‘landscape architecture’ is one keyword;

References: Each article should refer to articles, books, designs or other sources on the topic that it addresses. If you work in a research group or programme, why not referring to the work of your fellow researchers? A minimum of 10 references is required. SPOOL uses APA-style 7th edition, the most commonly used format worldwide.

In addition:

Originality: You can only publish your own work, you can't present the accomplishments of someone else as yours, plagiarism is not accepted;

Credit: If your research is a joint effort, then you should give your co-researchers/designers credit by listing them as co-author;

Writing style: We appreciate lively and original writing.

UK English: Please use UK English spelling;

Language editing: The author is responsible for journal ready editing of the final version;

Images: Please provide high quality and high resolution images. We consider image editing as important as text editing. Indicate in the text where the images belong but deliver the files seperately in high-resolution.

REVIEW PROCESS

SPOOL operates a double-blind review process. The review takes place in two stages. SPOOL will first facilitate the review of an extended abstract of the proposed contribution. The contribution is typically sent to a minimum of two independent expert reviewers to assess the scientific quality. The preliminary review results in advice on how to proceed with the paper. The same reviewers will review the full version of the contribution. The issue editors take the final decision regarding acceptance or rejection of contributions, based on the reviews. That decision is taken at both stages by the issue editors. The decisions by the editors are final.

All contributions to SPOOL are refereed.  Articles submitted to SPOOL will be peer-reviewed using the following principles:

• Timing – preprints;
• Identifiability – reviews are double-blinded;
• Mediation – editors mediate all interactions between reviewers and authors;
• Publication – peer reviews are not published;
• Facilitation – reviews are facilitated by the journal;
• Ownership – reviews are owned by the journal.