Journal profile · Computer Science, Software Engineering
Computer-Aided Design
ISSN 0010-4485 · eISSN 1879-2685 · Elsevier Ltd · ENGLAND · Monthly · Founded 1968
Computer-Aided Design: CAS Zone 3 · Computer Science (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 2.9; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,140; review about 126 days (submission to acceptance, publisher); community-reported acceptance: easy; 120 articles in 2025; indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Computer-Aided Design is published by Elsevier Ltd and is in Zone 3 of Computer Science in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Manufacturing Process and Optimization, Advanced Numerical Analysis Techniques and 3D Shape Modeling and Analysis, together about 42.5% of its articles. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Computer-Aided Design is a leading international journal that provides academia and industry with key papers on research and developments in computational foundations and methods of design. The term "design" is to be understood broadly to encompass conceptualization, synthesis, realization, and evolution of artifacts, processes, and systems (both natural and artificial).Computer-Aided Design invites papers reporting new research, as well as novel or particularly significant applications, within a wide range of topics, spanning all stages of design from concept creation to manufacture and beyond. Contributions are welcome from all disciplines and application areas, provided that they have a significant geometric, topological, spatial, or configuration design content, and present developments likely to be of interest to a broad spectrum of researchers, educators, and practitioners of computer-aided design. In this context, examples of relevant topics include but are not limited to:Foundational theories, frameworks, methodologies, and standardsMathematical models, representations, and algorithms for shapes, solids, structures, and assembliesMaterial, behavior, and physical modelingConceptual design and inventionUncertainty and imprecision in computer-aided designMulti-scale modeling and design of shape and material structuresSystem level design and model-based systems engineeringProgrammable subtractive, additive, and hybrid manufacturingGenerative design, shape, topology, and material optimizationComputational planning, fabrication, and inspectionDiscretization and meshing algorithmsData acquisition, model recognition and reconstructionRepresentation conversions and interoperabilityApplications of AI in design, including neural networks and machine learningDesign ontologies, grammars, languages, and semanticsData driven modeling and synthesisAdvanced support of manufacturing and downstream activitiesTechnologies in support of digital factory and digital twin conceptsUser interfaces, system interfaces, and human-computer interactionDesign databases, knowledge repositories, object libraries and retrievalSpecific applications and significant benchmarks of computer-aided designTypes of Papers:Research papers: report significant research and development results, describe the relevant theoretical foundations and methodology, and present workable algorithms and give examples taken from real world applications, stressing the significance of the approach being presented.Application papers: describe complex and pioneering applications of CAD concepts, methods and tools in practice, present significant results that extend the disciplinary knowledge and/or analyze the application in a way that is likely to stimulate and influence further research.Survey papers: critically analyze the current state of knowledge in a given field of CAD, summarize and organize recent research results in a novel way, derive new insights and deepen understanding of those working in the field, and propose possible topics, orientations and approaches for future research and development.Technical notes: respond to material published in the journal or closely related topics, repair a flaw in the definition and approach or stimulate further thinking, or provide additional technical details on a CAD theory, technology, methodology, product or application.Dataset papers: discuss creation, documentation, and critical assessment of data sets, repositories, and their uses supporting research and practice in all areas of computer-aided design. An algorithmic contribution is not required for a dataset paper, but the dataset itself must be made freely usable and accessible for research purposes. Dataset papers will go through the same rigorous review process and will be evaluated based on their novelty, impact, and presentation. Accessibility, privacy, and ethics are also important issues that will be considered by the reviewers and editors.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Computer Science, Software Engineering
Editor-in-chief M. BartonPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 6 in mainland China (about 10%); most named United States 22, Mainland China 6, United Kingdom 6, South Korea 3, France 3 (59 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Manufacturing Process and OptimizationEngineering17%
- Advanced Numerical Analysis TechniquesEngineering15.8%
- 3D Shape Modeling and AnalysisEngineering9.7%
- Computational Geometry and Mesh GenerationComputer Science8.1%
- Computer Graphics and Visualization TechniquesComputer Science7.8%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering4.1%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance4%
- BIM and Construction IntegrationEngineering3.4%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Computer Science Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Computer Science | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Computer Science, Software Engineering | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SCIEScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 2.9LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 3.2Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 7.4LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 7.4Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.9LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.49LetPub ·
- h-index
- 103LetPub ·
- h-index
- 159OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 3,076OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 2.35OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 12.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 19.72%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 107LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 9,833 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 90 | 31 | 21 |
| 2025 | 120 | 33 | 243 |
| 2024 | 89 | 36 | 438 |
| 2023 | 122 | 53 | 1,168 |
| 2022 | 135 | 50 | 1,753 |
| 2021 | 105 | 43 | 1,616 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Publisher-reported review time from the journal's website
126 dayssubmission to acceptance · community reports about 3 months
The publisher's own definition applies; dates from this journal's articles in the last 24 months are not available yet, so the publisher's figure is used.
Figures by source
- Average review time (community reports)
- about 3 monthsLetPub ·
- Average acceptance (community reports)
- EasyLetPub ·
- Submission to first decision
- 4 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 63 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 126 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 12 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,140 / EUR 2,940 / GBP 2,510 / JPY 389,450 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,570 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare5 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Reference style
- Numbered, in order of citation
- Highlights
- Required
- Graphical abstract
- Optional
Article types accepted10
- application papersApplication papers: describe complex and pioneering applications of CAD concepts, methods and tools in practice, present significant results that extend the dis…Length not stated
- book reviewIdeal research papers report significant developments, describe the relevant theoretical background, present a workable algorithm and give examples taken from r…Length not stated
- dataset papersDataset papers: discuss creation, documentation, and critical assessment of data sets, repositories, and their uses supporting research and practice in all area…Length not stated
- letterIdeal research papers report significant developments, describe the relevant theoretical background, present a workable algorithm and give examples taken from r…Length not stated
- research paperIdeal research papers report significant developments, describe the relevant theoretical background, present a workable algorithm and give examples taken from r…Length not stated
- research papersResearch papers: report significant research and development results, describe the relevant theoretical foundations and methodology, and present workable algori…Length not stated
- reviewIdeal research papers report significant developments, describe the relevant theoretical background, present a workable algorithm and give examples taken from r…Length not stated
- survey papersSurvey papers: critically analyze the current state of knowledge in a given field of CAD, summarize and organize recent research results in a novel way, derive …Length not stated
- technical noteIdeal research papers report significant developments, describe the relevant theoretical background, present a workable algorithm and give examples taken from r…Length not stated
- technical notesTechnical notes: respond to material published in the journal or closely related topics, repair a flaw in the definition and approach or stimulate further think…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing allowed Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication. In support of Open Science, this journal offers its authors a free preprint posting service on SSRN, Elsevier’s preprint and early research …
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Country or region
- ENGLAND
- Language
- English
- Frequency
- Monthly
- Founded
- 1968
- ISSN
- 0010-4485
- Electronic ISSN
- 1879-2685
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Computer-Aided Design
What CAS zone is Computer-Aided Design in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Computer-Aided Design is in Zone 3 of Computer Science, and in Zone 3 of the minor category Computer Science, Software Engineering. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Computer Science. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Computer-Aided Design?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 2.9; CiteScore 7.4, h-index 159.
How long does peer review take at Computer-Aided Design?
The publisher reports about 126 days (submission to acceptance); authors report an average review time of about 3 months; the community-reported acceptance is “Easy”. Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Computer-Aided Design?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Reference style: Numbered, in order of citation; Highlights: Required; Graphical abstract: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Computer-Aided Design based?
Of the 59 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 6 (about 10%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (22), Mainland China (6) and United Kingdom (6). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Computer-Aided Design?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Computer-Aided Design is indexed in SCIE and Scopus.
Is Computer-Aided Design open access, and what is the APC?
Computer-Aided Design is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,140.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-24). Last updated: .