GDI 2026 and DigiBUILT 2026 · 7 and 8 December 2026 · Online Important datesNewsQuestionsTermsContact
Authors, Presenters, Reviewers and Chairs

Guidance for Contributors

Series-wide guidance for everyone who shapes the scholarly programme. Each edition page sets out its own deadlines, themes and submission portal.

Pathway

From Abstract to Publication

Six stages take a contribution from an initial research question to the published record. Each stage has a defined purpose, a clear responsibility for the author, and a tangible output that carries the work forward.

  1. 01Scope

    Define the Contribution and Choose the Venue

    Identify the specific problem the work addresses and the contribution it makes beyond existing knowledge. Submit to GDI where the research centres on the physical, environmental and human dimensions of the built environment, and to DigiBUILT where it centres on artificial intelligence, digital twins, smart systems or computational workflows. Select the theme stream that fits most closely. Each paper is submitted to one conference only.

    OutputA clear research question and a target stream
  2. 02Submission

    Prepare and Submit the Manuscript

    Write the full paper in the official template, up to 10 pages including references, following the structure of introduction, literature review, methods, results, discussion and conclusion. Remove every identifying detail from the file and upload both a PDF and an editable Word version through the submission portal. Industry contributions of up to 500 words follow the same route.

    OutputAnonymised PDF and Word files
  3. 03Peer review

    Double-Blind Peer Review

    Each full paper is assessed, normally by at least two reviewers from the scientific committee and invited experts, for originality, methodological rigour, relevance to the themes and clarity of presentation. Neither authors nor reviewers know one another’s identity. The decision is returned with written reports that explain the reasoning.

    OutputWritten reviewer reports and a decision
  4. 04Revision

    Revise and Submit the Camera-Ready Version

    Address every reviewer comment, either through a change to the paper or a reasoned response. Restore author names, affiliations and ORCID iDs, confirm permissions for all figures, and check that references are complete. The camera-ready file is the version forwarded for publication, and the author list is fixed from this point.

    OutputFinal manuscript and response to reviewers
  5. 05Registration

    Register and Present the Work

    At least one author registers for each accepted paper by the registration deadline. The paper is then scheduled in a session and presented live or, where the edition allows, through an approved recording, followed by questions from the session chair and audience.

    OutputPaid registration and a presentation
  6. 06Publication

    Publication and Onward Development

    Accepted and presented papers are forwarded to the proceedings publisher, which applies its own assessment to each paper. The scientific committee invites the strongest papers to be extended for journal special issues or developed into chapters of edited books, each under the full review of the journal or publisher concerned.

    OutputProceedings, special issues and books
Participation means acceptance. No signature is required.

Submitting any contribution to GDI or DigiBUILT, including GDI 2025, or registering for, attending, presenting at or otherwise taking part in any GDI-related event, means you have read and accepted the Terms and Conditions of Participation and the policies they incorporate. See clause 2.

Contribution Types

Three Ways to Contribute

Academic Full Paper

Up to 10 pages including references. Original research with a clearly stated contribution, considered for the proceedings and eligible for invitation to special issues and edited books.

Current Call

Industry Contribution

Up to 500 words on a project case study, strategic initiative or practice insight aligned with the themes of the edition.

Current Call

Awards Application

A 200-word public overview and a 500-word description of objectives, method, innovation and impact.

GDI Awards

Publication Is Decided by the Publisher

GDI 2025 and GDI 2026 have agreements with Springer Nature for the conference proceedings. In line with Springer Nature’s guidelines and protocols for conference proceedings, the publisher assesses every accepted paper independently and publishes those that meet its criteria. Accepted papers that are not taken forward by Springer Nature may be considered for publication through alternative platforms. Publication and indexing decisions rest with each publisher and indexing service.

Read the full publication statement · Publication Policy · Terms, clause 8

Formatting and Submission Rules

  • All work must be original, unpublished and written in clear, professional English.
  • Review is double blind. Submit an anonymised file; author names and affiliations are entered only in the submission portal.
  • Upload two versions of each paper: a PDF and an editable Word file.
  • Name files with your submission ID followed by a short title, for example “GDI2026 ID 100 Smart City”.
  • Academic full papers are limited to 10 pages including references and must use the official template.
  • Structure: Title, Introduction, Literature Review, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusion. Add sections where the work requires them.

Outside the Scope of the Proceedings

  • Literature reviews that do not introduce a novel framework, methodology or original contribution beyond the review itself
  • Scientometric or bibliometric studies such as keyword mapping or citation trend analysis
  • Survey papers that report descriptive findings only, without advancing knowledge or theory
  • Essays and opinion pieces without empirical grounding or methodological rigour
  • Derivative or incremental studies that apply existing tools to a new context without producing new insight

Camera-Ready Checklist

  • Every reviewer comment addressed in the paper or in a reasoned response
  • Official template used without alteration to margins, fonts or spacing
  • Author names, affiliations and ORCID iDs restored and checked
  • Figures legible, captioned, cited in the text and cleared for use
  • Every reference complete, accurate and cited in the text
  • Any use of generative AI disclosed as set out in the ethics statement

Special Issues and Books

The scientific committee invites the strongest papers to extend their work for journal special issues and edited books. An invitation opens the door to journal review: extended papers pass through each journal’s full review and must add substantial new material to the conference version.

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