A Bibliometric Analysis of Trends in Smart Ports Research Across Academic Databases

This study aims to analyze academic research trends on smart ports by examining representative academic databases from the global, Korean, and Chinese contexts. The goal is to identify key tasks and strategies essential for the development of smart ports. A bibliometric methodology was employed, incorporating descriptive analysis and keyword co-occurrence networks to uncover significant research areas and their evolution. Using VOSViewer, cluster analysis was conducted on 573 relevant papers extracted from the SCOPUS, DBpia, and CNKI databases to map research trends and thematic structures. This study provides a detailed overview of the progression of smart port research by analyzing publication trends, research fields, and keyword statistics. Keyword co-occurrence network analysis identified three major research clusters for each database, offering insights into the thematic focuses and main topics within the field of smart ports. A comparative analysis of research output between Korea and China revealed that while China leads in research quantity, distinct differences exist in research priorities and thematic focuses. Aligned with global research trends, Korea emphasizes the importance of engineering research to develop and secure core technologies for smart ports.