# Knowledge Mapping Analysis of Intelligent Ports: Research Facing Global Value Chain Challenges
## 3 Results
### Intellectual Structure
#### 3.1.3 Intermediate Work Published from 2019 to 2021  
Figure 1 shows the intermediate body of works published in the period 2019-2021. As early as in 2019, a paper on smart shipping began to raise questions on the use of IoT and Big Data for intelligent ships and smart ports [67], regarding system complexity, vulnerability, and accountability, which remain currently unresolved. Moreover, the issues of measurements and monitoring, mainly using 5G and IoT, were raised and discussed [64; 77; 78]. This research concern on evaluating the efficacy of ICTs for smart port application was also discussed in a paper published in _IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics_[79]. This paper provided evidence from interactive websites and social media marketing on port efficiency, formulating suggestions for policymakers, port authorities, and industrial sectors to identify critical areas for development and investment. In 2020, in addition to the aforementioned paper on the internet of ships by [PERSON] et al. [60] and a literature review paper on Industry 4.0 by [PERSON] et al. [34], other papers discussing the use of the ICTs or digital technologies for smart ports were published, covering the need to address greenhouse gases emission issues [62], the Spanish port system ranking [65], and the Easylog project between Italian and French regions for five ports in the upper Tyrrhenian area [80]. Furthermore, the technological innovation possibilities were further discussed for the ports of the North Sea and the Baltic Sea [81]. In relation to the use of microgrid applications and smart port system integration, a paper proposed a set of smart port index (SPI) metrics, building a model to solve both investment master and operation planning problems, while ensuring improvements in sustainability, reliability, and productivity of port operations [61]. In 2021, in addition to the aforementioned research on strategic interrelationships and decision-making [74], the discussions on the use of IoT and blockchains was updated [82; 83]. A paper proposed an EU port management system based on a scalable and multi-tenant cloud-based IoT integration platform, to integrate the fragmented implementation of IoT protocols and devices, resulting in a project called Obelisk [82]. This paper pointed to the need for further development in platform scalability for microservices for IoT, as illustrated in an air quality monitoring use case deployed in the city of Antwerp. The possibilities of blockchain technologies for innovation platforms in the maritime port industry were also explored by [83], revealing the need to fill the gap between the port and its city, resulting in two scenarios and recommendations that consider both the social and cognitive aspects of Industry 4.0 in smart port applications. Finally, a major systematic review paper on the decarbonization of seaports by [PERSON] et al. [84] raised and answered several research questions. Six themes emerged for smart green seaports: (1) carbon emission reduction; (2) renewable energy adoption; (3) cost optimization; (4) smart control technology adoption; (5) regulatory landscape; and (6) best practices and guidelines. As will be further discussed in Section 4.2, these papers highlight the need to apply a socio-technical perspective [35; 36; 37], because of the various aspects of systematic innovations and changes required for green and digital transitions. Another work by [PERSON] et al. [85] applied the network data envelopment analysis (DEA) to Iranian ports for their respective intelligence and greenness components. Focusing on both the level of intelligence and the level of greenness, this paper provides a multidimensional performance evaluation of 11 Iranian ports based on network DEA analysis, finding that only 5% of these ports meet the standards of intelligence and greenness. This paper also advocates for the development of green ports, especially in third-world countries, so that port authorities can review their strategies and key performance indicators accordingly.