About the Journal

Journal of Planner and Development cover

Journal of Planner and Development (JPD) is a peer-reviewed, open access academic journal published by the Center of Urban and Regional Planning for Postgraduate Studies , University of Baghdad . Established in 1995, the journal provides a scholarly platform for research in urban and regional planning, urban design, sustainable development, environmental planning, spatial analysis, geoinformatics, planning technologies, urban systems, and socio-spatial development.

JPD aims to advance scholarly knowledge, methodological development, and evidence-based planning practice by publishing rigorous theoretical, empirical, spatial, analytical, and review-based research. The journal welcomes manuscripts that contribute to planning theory, planning methodology, spatial decision-making, urban policy, environmental sustainability, governance, built environment studies, and planning practice.

The journal is committed to academic quality, publication ethics, research integrity, editorial transparency, open access dissemination, and the maintenance of a clear and accessible scholarly archive.

Journal Profile and Visibility
Journal Profile and Visibility
Peer-reviewed | Open Access | Indexed in: Google Scholar | IASJ | Registered in: ISSN Portal
Journal Type
Peer-reviewed
open access academic journal
Current Publishing Frequency
Triannual
three issues per year
Print ISSN
1996-983X
Electronic ISSN
2960-1908
Established
1995
Abbreviation
JPD
Publication Frequency and Archive Transparency
Current Publication Schedule
JPD is currently published on a triannual basis, with three issues per year.

The publication frequency of Journal of Planner and Development (JPD) has developed over time in line with the journal’s editorial growth, the increasing volume and diversity of scholarly submissions, and the need to ensure more timely dissemination of accepted research.

Earlier volumes were published according to the publication schedule approved at the time, which commonly included two issues per year, with possible special or supplementary issues where applicable. Beginning with Volume 28 (2023), JPD adopted a regular triannual publication schedule, with three issues per year.

Differences in the number of issues across previous years should therefore be understood as part of the journal’s documented publication history and approved editorial development, not as missing or incomplete archive content. All previously published volumes and issues remain part of the official scholarly archive of JPD and retain their bibliographic and academic status.

View Current and Archived Issues

Manuscript Types and Scholarly Contribution

JPD publishes only Original Research Articles and Review Articles. Submitted manuscripts must present a clear scholarly contribution, a sound methodological or review framework, and direct relevance to the field of urban and regional planning.

Descriptive reports, consultancy documents, opinion papers, project summaries, and purely technical papers without planning relevance are not considered for peer review.

Scope Reference

The detailed aims, thematic scope, manuscript eligibility, and editorial scope statement of the journal are provided on the dedicated Aims and Scope page. Authors should consult that page before preparing a submission to ensure that their manuscript fits the journal’s disciplinary focus and publication priorities.

View Aims and Scope

Peer Review and Editorial Standards

JPD applies a double-blind peer review process. Manuscripts are initially screened for scope, originality, ethical compliance, language quality, manuscript structure, and adherence to the journal’s author guidelines. Submissions that pass the editorial screening are evaluated by independent reviewers with relevant expertise.

Editorial decisions are based on academic merit, originality, methodological soundness, ethical integrity, and contribution to urban and regional planning knowledge and practice.

View Peer Review Policy

Ethics, Open Access, and Author Responsibilities

The journal is committed to publication ethics, research integrity, transparency, and open access dissemination. Published articles are made available according to the journal’s copyright and licensing policy.

Authors are expected to comply with the journal’s policies on plagiarism, similarity screening, authorship, conflict of interest, funding disclosure, data availability, ethics approval, and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools.