A systematic review of smart ports in global maritime trade: multi-dimensional evaluation framework and development trend analysis

Driven by global trade development and the fourth industrial revolution, global seaports are facing pressures such as improving operational efficiency and addressing environmental challenges. Smart ports have become the key to transformation. However, existing research lacks a unified conceptual framework and a systematic evaluation system, which hinders their development. To address this gap, this review analyses over 100 papers and multiple sources of information retrieved from 2020 to 2025, including official port documents, industry authoritative reports, and mainstream industry media coverage. It integrates the core concepts of smart ports and designs their underlying architecture. Through case comparisons of 8 representative global ports, a five-dimensional evaluation framework covering infrastructure, smart technology application, comprehensive operational efficiency, green sustainability, and global connectivity is proposed. The results indicate that intelligent technologies like digital twin (DT) and automatic scheduling have significantly improved ship operation efficiency and energy utilisation. Asia Ports, driven by national-level strategies, are achieving ‘great-leap-forward development’ in automation and smart technologies. European Ports focus on optimising the efficiency of the entire European logistics ecosystem through data sharing and collaborative platforms, consolidating their role as ‘gateways’. North American Ports supply chain resilience and green transformation as core strategies, enhancing visibility and environmental leadership.