Journal Metrics

Journal evaluation and impact

Scopus Citescore for 2023: 5.4

  • #17/189 in Engineering: Architecture (91st percentile = Q1)
  • #45/279 in Social Sciences: Urban Studies (82nd percentile –Q1)
  • #141/821 in Social Sciences: Geography, Planning and Development (82nd percentile = Q1)
  • #51/223 in Engineering: Building and Construction (77th percentile = Q1)
  • #54/219 in Environmental Science (miscellaneous) (75th percentile = Q1) 
  • #115/399 in Environmental Science: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law (71st percentile = Q2)

Scimago h-index:  17 (2023)
Scimago Journal Rank: 0.817 (2023) (Q1; ranked 9th out of 169)

Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ): Seal of Approval

Finnish Publication Forum (JUFO): level 2

Content metrics

Peer-reviewed content in the 2023 volume:
Submissions received 1 119
Reviews requested 2 713
Reviews received 3 304
Total Rejections 4 58
Acceptances 5 53
Acceptance rate 6 48%
Peer-reviewed papers - Time to publication in 2023:
Time from submission to first decision 7 62 days
Time from submission to acceptance 8 109 days

Definitions

1 Number of new articles received by the journal

2 Number of peer review invitation emails that were sent out

3 Number of completed peer review reports received

4 Total number of articles rejected (including desk rejects)

5 Number of articles that received a 'Accept for publication' decision

6 Number of acceptances, as a percentage, against the total number of final decisions

7 'Mean' average from submission to first decision for all publications in the volume

8 'Mean' average from submission to acceptance for all publications in the volume (includes revision & second review)

Latest Commentaries

5th Anniversary Essays

5th Anniversary Essays

These commissioned essays from Buildings & Cities' authors and readers explore how the research landscape is changing. New essays are continuously being added to the collection during 2024 as part of B&C's anniversary.

Collectively, these essays offer fresh insights into the processes and issues that are currently inadequate or missing in the built environment research landscape. A wide perspective from different disciplines and geographies creates a positive, collective vision for shaping the research agenda. Recommendations are made for what needs to change.

We hope this will provoke and inspire research funders, researchers and other stakeholders to discuss, reflect and act. Ideas range from systemic change to key research questions to improving engagement to change of focus.

The Challenges of Evidence-Based Design

While some progress has been made, particularly in areas like healing architecture where the impact of design on human well-being is more directly observable, much work remains to be done to extend evidence-based design to broader fields of architecture, urban planning and design. Meta Berghauser Pont (Chalmers University of Technology) explains the challenges and pathways needed for a shift toward evidence-based design in urban planning and urban design.