# Knowledge Mapping Analysis of Intelligent Ports: Research Facing Global Value Chain Challenges
## 1 Introduction  
Roadmapping can be a valuable strategic tool for research and innovation management [1; 2], especially for complex issues, such as climate change and carbon emission reduction [3]. Port development and management, including port logistics [4], can also use roadmapping to explore how digital technologies can advance the smart and sustainable development of ports, port cities, and global value chains. The \"greening\" of global value chains or global trade [5], including embedding environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting practices and data, can begin with the \"greening\" of ports, as evidenced by the industrial agenda for the World Port Sustainability Program (WFSP) [6]. Indeed, ports need to improve their environmental performance, while not losing their competitiveness. The WPSP has exemplified the contribution by a major sector in the supply chain to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aligning the industry best practices and sustainable development actions, especially with the targets of SDG 9, 14 and 15 [7], includingthe knowledge of key actors and driving factors. Similarly, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Framework for Sustainable Freight Transport also provides a methodology and tools to support step-by-step decision-making processes for sustainable operations [8]. Roadmapping for stakeholder alignment in smart ports from the supply chain perspective is, thus, necessary.  
The roadmapping technology of sustainable smart ports is also important as it faces challenges in the supply chain instability caused by the COVID-19 pandemic [9] and geopolitical tensions [10]. In fact, it points to the need to foster service transformation using digital technologies [11; 12]. For instance, ports can provide sustainable smart services that advance the resilience and reliability of supply chains. Moreover, roadmapping points to the need for an advanced supply-chain performance evaluation. For instance, a bibliometric analysis of the performance evaluation for supply chain disruption highlighted the notion of reconfigurability [13]; thus, sustainable smart ports can provide reconfigurable services that tackle disruptions. When facing the risk from climate change, sea-levels rising, and supply chain disruptions, ports and companies can collaborate by adopting digital transformation to improve performance and competitiveness [14], and by identifying pathways to ensure supply chain resilience [15; 16; 17]. Sustainable smart ports should contribute to a more reliable and resilient supply chain. The shared interests in supply chain sustainability provide common grounds for experts and professionals, coming from port management and supply chain management, to work on a roadmap for the application scenario of smart ports that applies information communication technologies (ICTs), including artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT).  
In practice, Finnish smart and green port ecosystems are an example of the ongoing development of sustainable smart ports, as demonstrated in a 2022 brochure [18]. Offered in this brochure are solutions for the following aspects: (1) port design; (2) network infrastructure, connectivity, and data management; (3) digital platforms; (4) software applications; (5) autonomous systems; (6) automated and precisely tracked cargo and passenger flows; and (7) energy infrastructure, new fuels, marine maintenance, and environmental solutions. Furthermore, as the top port with the highest container throughput in 12 consecutive years, the Shanghai International Shipping Center celebrated its achievements in green transformation, digital intelligence, and robust resilience [19]. In synthesis, smart and green port development matters for digital supply chains.