Application of GIS in the Maritime-Port Sector: A Systematic Review

Abstract

In port management, the integration of geographic information systems (GIS) is essential for geospatial analysis in a complex environment shaped by digitalisation and energy transition. Although the adoption of GIS and spatial data infrastructures (SDI) are growing, their use remains with challenges in interoperability and collaborative data management. This study conducts a systematic review to identify the main publications from the past 10 years on the use of GIS and SDI in the maritime sector, using the Scopus and Web of Science databases. The results revealed an annual growth of 8.59% in scientific publications over the past decade, with a focus on environmental monitoring, machine learning, and digitalisation. The findings also suggest the limited use of SDI in the maritime sector, reinforcing the need for future research on interoperability and spatial data integration. Nevertheless, the main trends include the integration of GIS with machine learning, advanced spatial applications, and artificial intelligence, showing an increasing focus on sustainability, environmental monitoring, and innovative management systems.