A Theoretical Framework for Smart Ports

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch

2 Higher Defense University - Faculty of Security

3 Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran - Faculty of Management

Abstract

Despite the growing body of literature on smart ports, existing studies have primarily focused on the technological, operational, or managerial dimensions of this phenomenon, while providing limited attention to an integrated explanation of its theoretical constructs and the conceptual relationships among them. Since the smart port is an interdisciplinary concept encompassing technological, process-related, and institutional dimensions, this study aims to identify its theoretical constructs and develop a framework.

This research is developmental–applied in purpose and qualitative in nature. Data were collected through a systematic review and selection of relevant scientific publications, followed by the extraction of concepts and themes. Data analysis was conducted using directed thematic analysis supported by MAXQDA Analytics Pro 2020. An initial theoretical framework was first developed based on the literature. The selected studies were then coded and analyzed through frequency and co-occurrence analyses.

The findings indicate that the theoretical framework of smart ports is built upon four constructs: Industry 4.0, the evolutionary process of digital transformation, technological and infrastructural enablers, and the institutional and governance framework. Frequency and co-occurrence analyses revealed that the evolutionary process of digital transformation and technological and infrastructural enablers constitute the central core of the framework. Furthermore, Industry 4.0 was identified as the linking construct, while the institutional and governance framework functions as the institutional regulatory construct. Accordingly, the framework was organized into a three-layer structure.

The novelty of this study lies in identifying and organizing the constructs of smart ports and explaining their interrelationships within a three-layer theoretical framework.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

فهرست منابع
ترسلی و همکاران )6046(. کاربرد هوش مصنوعی در بهبود فرایند جمعآوری و تحلیل اطلاعات.
مطالعات بینرشتهای دانش راهبردی، 60)51(.
محمدی منفرد و همکاران )6040(. الگوی مفهومی کاربست حکمرانی فناوری هوش مصنوعی با
رویکرد ارتقا قدرت سایبری. مطالعات بینرشتهای دانش راهبردی، 65)14(.
موسوی سرشت )6046(. چهارچوبی برای هوشمندسازی بنادر، با رویکرد تلفیق بلاکچین و هوش
مصنوعی. در چهارمین کنفرانس بینالمللی هوش مصنوعی و چشمانداز آینده آن در علوم
مهندسی برق، کامپیوتر، مکانیک و مخابرات
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