Objectives, Vision, and Scope of the Journal

Mission

The Journal of Engineering Structures for Irrigation and Drainage is published with the aim of advancing knowledge, expanding the frontiers of research, and promoting technology in the fields of the design, analysis, construction, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and management of irrigation and drainage structures, as well as water conveyance and distribution systems.

The journal provides a scientific platform for publishing original, innovative, and applied research and seeks to establish effective linkages among universities, research institutions, industry, executive and governmental organizations, and stakeholders in the water and agricultural sectors.

The mission of the journal is to publish high-quality scientific achievements and support research that can make an effective contribution to addressing national and regional challenges in water resources management, sustainable agricultural development, improving water productivity, and advancing technologies related to water infrastructure and engineering structures.

Vision

The journal aims to become one of the leading journals in the field of irrigation and drainage engineering structures in the region by adhering to international standards of scholarly publishing, continuously improving the scientific quality of published articles, expanding national and international scientific collaborations, and maintaining a strong commitment to research ethics.

The journal's vision is to achieve inclusion in reputable international indexing databases, enhance its scientific impact, and provide a platform for publishing innovative research in the design, operation, management, and development of water infrastructure.

Types of Articles

The journal accepts the following types of articles:

Original Research Articles

Articles presenting new scientific findings, clearly defined methodologies, reliable data, and robust and credible results.

Review Articles

Studies that provide comprehensive reviews of the scientific literature, analyze the current state of knowledge, and present new perspectives that contribute to the advancement of knowledge in a specialized field.

Technical and Applied Articles

Research studies with significant engineering and practical value that can be applied to solving real-world problems in the fields of water and agriculture.

Extension Articles

Findings from applied research with an extension-oriented and practical nature that have the potential to be transferred to and utilized by experts, technical personnel, and stakeholders in the water and agricultural sectors.

Scope and Thematic Areas of the Journal

The Journal of Engineering Structures for Irrigation and Drainage aims to advance knowledge, technology, and practical experience in the design, management, operation, and governance of irrigation and drainage systems. The journal welcomes research, review, analytical, policy-oriented, and practical experience-based articles related to the sustainable management of agricultural water.

Design, Construction, Operation, Maintenance, and Rehabilitation of Irrigation and Drainage Networks

• Water conveyance and distribution networks
• Surface and pressurized irrigation systems
• Operation and maintenance of irrigation and drainage networks
• Rehabilitation and modernization of existing networks

Analysis, Optimization, and Management of Irrigation and Drainage Structures and Systems

• Hydraulic and structural design
• Structural performance and safety analysis
• Design optimization
• Assessment of infrastructure durability and service life

Modernization and Performance Enhancement of Measurement and Control Structures in Irrigation and Drainage Networks

• Modernization of traditional irrigation networks
• Improvement of control and measurement systems
• Equipping networks with advanced technologies
• Transition from traditional management to data-driven management

Resilience, Risk Management, and Climate Change Adaptation of Irrigation and Drainage Infrastructure

• Drought and water scarcity
• Climate-related hazards
• Design of resilient infrastructure
• Uncertainty management
• Adaptation of water systems to future conditions

Drainage Engineering, Salinity Control, Water and Soil Management, and Reclamation of Irrigated Lands

• Surface and subsurface drainage
• Management and control of waterlogging
• Salinity and sodicity management
• Water–soil–plant interactions

Water, Energy, and Input Productivity in Irrigation and Drainage Systems

• Improving water-use productivity
• Reducing water losses
• Energy management in pumping and water conveyance
• Water productivity at farm and network levels
• Productivity and efficiency indicators

Water Quality Management, Non-Conventional Water Resources, and Water Reuse in Agriculture

• Use of treated wastewater
• Saline and brackish water
• Effects of water quality on soil, plants, and irrigation equipment
• Water treatment and water reuse technologies

Smart, Automated, and Digital Systems in Irrigation and Drainage

• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Smart sensors
• Automated irrigation control
• Smart agricultural water networks
• Digital Twins

Artificial Intelligence, Data Mining, Machine Learning, Modeling, and Decision Support Systems in Agricultural Water Engineering

• Intelligent algorithms
• Prediction and simulation
• Multi-objective optimization
• Management decision-support systems

Remote Sensing, GIS, UAVs, and Advanced Technologies for Monitoring Irrigation and Drainage Systems

• Monitoring the performance of irrigation and drainage networks
• Evapotranspiration estimation
• Soil moisture monitoring
• Precision agriculture
• Environmental change monitoring

Performance Assessment, Productivity, and Impact Analysis of Irrigation and Drainage Projects and Networks

• Irrigation and drainage network performance assessment
• Performance evaluation indicators
• Economic analysis
• Social and environmental impacts
• Life-cycle assessment of projects

Water Governance, Economics, Policy, and Management Systems in Irrigation and Drainage

• Volumetric water delivery
• Stakeholder and water-user participation
• Water demand management
• Water economics
• Development and operational policies

Integrated Water, Soil, Food, Energy, and Environment Management

Water–Energy–Food–Environment Nexus

• Water and food security linkages
• Water–energy interactions
• Integrated resource management
• Sustainable agricultural development

Management of Irrigation and Drainage Networks under Water Scarcity, Drought, and Resource Constraints

• Optimal water allocation
• Demand management
• Irrigation planning under water constraints
• Strategies for reducing drought-related losses and damages

Materials, Construction Materials, Geotechnics, and Advanced Technologies for Irrigation and Drainage Structures

• Problematic soils
• Advanced construction materials
• Geosynthetics
• Construction technologies
• Structural durability and maintenance

Emerging Technologies, Innovations, and Foresight in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

• Future technologies
• Global trends
• Future of agricultural water management
• Foresight and prospective studies

Traditional Systems, Indigenous Structures, and the Engineering Heritage of Irrigation and Drainage

• Qanats
• Historical water conveyance structures
• Indigenous knowledge of water management
• Historical lessons learned

Comparison, Evaluation, and Optimization of Traditional and Modern Irrigation and Drainage Systems

• Comparison of technologies
• Selection of appropriate technologies
• Cost–benefit analysis
• Integration of traditional knowledge and modern technologies

Applied Studies, Practical Experiences, Technical Reports, and Lessons Learned from Irrigation and Drainage Projects

• Successful implementation experiences
• Case studies of irrigation and drainage networks
• Transfer of engineering experiences
• Analysis of implementation and operational challenges

Review, Analytical, Policy, and Foresight Articles in Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

• Systematic reviews
• Analysis of research trends
• Policy-oriented articles
• Roadmaps for technology development and water management

Journal Audience

The journal is intended for the following groups:

• University faculty members
• Researchers
• Graduate students
• Water engineers
• Civil engineers
• Water resources specialists
• Agricultural engineers
• Environmental specialists
• Irrigation network managers
• Experts from the Ministry of Energy
• Experts from the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad
• Consulting companies
• Contractors involved in water projects
• Executive and operational managers
• Water policymakers

Research Priorities

The journal particularly welcomes research with the following characteristics:

• Scientific innovation
• Industrial and practical applications
• Field-based studies
• Advanced modeling
• Numerical analysis
• Smart technologies
• Monitoring systems
• Development of innovative design methods
• Resilience of water infrastructure
• Development of water-saving technologies
• Smart water resources management

Characteristics of a High-Quality Article

A submitted article should possess the following characteristics:

• A clearly defined research problem
• A valid and appropriate research methodology
• Reliable and credible data
• Rigorous scientific analysis
• Well-supported discussion
• Scientific novelty
• Conclusions based on research findings
• Practical applicability of the results
• Proper and accurate citation of references
• Compliance with research ethics principles

Interdisciplinary Research

The journal welcomes interdisciplinary research in the following areas:

• Water engineering
• Civil engineering
• Agricultural engineering
• Environmental engineering
• Data science
• Artificial intelligence
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Remote sensing
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Water economics
• Water resources management
• Climate change
• Sustainable development

Scientific Quality Statement

All manuscripts are evaluated solely on the basis of their scientific quality, originality, research novelty, methodological rigor, validity of results, and relevance to the journal's scope.

Decisions regarding the acceptance or rejection of manuscripts are made without regard to the authors' institutional affiliation, nationality, gender, race, religion, political views, or other personal characteristics.

Journal Commitment

The journal is committed to:

• Implementing a fair and impartial peer-review process.
• Adhering to publication ethics principles.
• Maintaining the confidentiality of information concerning authors and reviewers.
• Managing conflicts of interest.
• Addressing research misconduct in accordance with international standards.
• Continuously improving the scientific quality of published articles.
• Ensuring transparency in the decision-making process.
• Supporting the development of national and international scientific collaborations.

Core Values of the Journal

The Journal of Engineering Structures for Irrigation and Drainage bases its scientific and operational activities on the following core values:

1. Scientific Quality

Publishing original, innovative, and scientifically valuable research that contributes to the advancement of knowledge and technology in the field of irrigation and drainage engineering structures.

2. Research Integrity and Honesty

Full commitment to the principles of research ethics, scientific integrity, transparency, accountability, and respect for the rights of all stakeholders involved in the scholarly publishing process.

3. Equity and Impartiality

Evaluating manuscripts solely on the basis of scientific quality, without discrimination based on nationality, gender, institutional affiliation, political views, religion, or other personal characteristics.

4. Innovation and Technology

Supporting innovative research and emerging technologies in water engineering, including artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things, numerical modeling, remote sensing, and other advanced technologies.

5. Transparency

Ensuring transparency throughout all stages of manuscript submission, peer review, decision-making, publication, and correction.

6. Scientific Collaboration

Promoting interaction and collaboration among universities, research institutions, industry, the private sector, and executive organizations in support of the development of knowledge and technology.

7. Social Responsibility

Supporting research that contributes to sustainable water resources management, improved water productivity, environmental protection, and enhanced societal well-being.

8. Continuous Improvement

Continuously reviewing and improving the journal's managerial, scientific, and operational processes in accordance with international standards of scholarly publishing.

Strategic Priorities of the Journal

To enhance the scientific quality and increase the impact of published research, the journal pursues the following strategic priorities:

• Continuously improving the scientific quality of published articles.
• Increasing the proportion of innovative and problem-oriented research.
• Expanding national and international scientific collaborations.
• Attracting leading domestic and international researchers.
• Increasing the journal's citation impact and scientific influence.
• Enhancing the journal's position in reputable evaluation and indexing systems.
• Developing electronic publishing infrastructure and digital services.
• Improving the transparency, speed, and quality of the peer-review process.
• Supporting research related to emerging technologies.
• Strengthening interaction among academia, industry, and executive institutions.
• Moving toward responsible, open, and sustainable publishing.
• Improving the quality of the English-language version of the journal and expanding its international readership.

Statement of Commitment to International Publishing Standards

The Journal of Engineering Structures for Irrigation and Drainage is committed to conducting all of its scientific, operational, and publishing activities in accordance with internationally recognized principles of scholarly publishing, research ethics, and scientific journal management. In this regard, the journal seeks to continuously review and update its policies, processes, and guidelines in order to remain aligned with international best practices. The journal places strong emphasis on transparency, accountability, scientific quality, rigorous peer review, research integrity, conflict-of-interest management, confidentiality, protection of the rights of authors, reviewers, and readers, and the responsible dissemination of knowledge. The journal also considers improving accessibility, enhancing metadata quality, adopting persistent research identifiers, improving article discoverability and retrieval, and increasing international scholarly engagement as key strategic objectives.

The Journal of Engineering Structures for Irrigation and Drainage, through its commitment to research ethics, rigorous scientific peer review, transparency in the publication process, and support for innovative research, seeks to provide a credible and authoritative platform for disseminating scientific achievements in the field of irrigation and drainage engineering structures and to contribute to the advancement of knowledge, technology, and sustainable water resources management.