Periodic Reporting for period 1 - RePortFlows ((Re)Connecting Maritime Ecosystems: Geospatial Mapping of the ‘Spaces of Flows’ in Port-City Regions)
Período documentado: 2022-11-01 hasta 2024-10-31
European port cities have historically served as critical gateways connecting international maritime trade with regional economies, shaping not only the physical landscapes but also the socio-economic dynamics of urban and regional development. Today, however, port-city-regions across Europe face unprecedented challenges driven by multiple interconnected crises—climate change, disruptions in global supply chains, economic uncertainty, technological transformation, and rapid urban growth. These challenges have significant implications for sustainability, regional development, governance structures, and urban quality of life.
In this complex context, the RePortFlows project aimed to comprehensively investigate and map the evolving spatial relationships, logistical dynamics, and governance interactions occurring within and around major European port-city-regions. The project specifically focused on two important case studies—Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Genoa in Italy—representing two major European maritime hubs with distinct governance and spatial planning contexts.
To address these challenges, RePortFlows pursued three main objectives:
First, to create a multidisciplinary theoretical and methodological framework clarifying the concept of ‘port-city-region’ in Europe, exploring patterns of urban growth, maritime logistics, and institutional governance. This foundational objective addressed the need for clearer conceptualization and better understanding of how ports interact spatially, economically, and politically with their surrounding regions.
Second, to employ advanced geospatial mapping and visualization methods to investigate and understand the complex dynamics of port-related flows—such as cargo, passengers, and knowledge—within these port-city-regions. This objective tackled the significant need for robust, data-driven insights to inform policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders about the spatial impacts of maritime logistics on urban development.
Third, to formulate actionable policy recommendations aimed at integrating port operations more sustainably into urban and regional planning processes. Given the ongoing environmental and socio-economic pressures facing port cities, this objective sought to provide policymakers and stakeholders with effective strategies for enhancing sustainability, fostering economic resilience, and ensuring socially inclusive growth in maritime regions.
Social sciences and humanities disciplines played a central role throughout RePortFlows, particularly through urban studies, geography, economics, sociology, and governance studies. These disciplines enabled a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between global maritime dynamics and local urban contexts. For instance, the project critically explored governance structures and institutional frameworks that shape spatial policies and urban planning decisions, emphasizing human and social dimensions such as quality of life, equitable urban development, and stakeholder engagement.
Through its innovative conceptual approach and robust empirical analyses, the RePortFlows project directly aligns with strategic European policy priorities, notably the European Green Deal and sustainable urban development goals. Its findings offer practical guidance to local and regional authorities, port administrators, urban planners, policymakers, and community stakeholders on managing port-city-region development sustainably and inclusively. Ultimately, RePortFlows contributes to Europe’s broader ambition of fostering resilient, sustainable, and socially cohesive urban and regional environments, demonstrating how ports can serve as catalysts for innovative economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social well-being in the face of global challenges.
In this complex context, the RePortFlows project aimed to comprehensively investigate and map the evolving spatial relationships, logistical dynamics, and governance interactions occurring within and around major European port-city-regions. The project specifically focused on two important case studies—Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Genoa in Italy—representing two major European maritime hubs with distinct governance and spatial planning contexts.
To address these challenges, RePortFlows pursued three main objectives:
First, to create a multidisciplinary theoretical and methodological framework clarifying the concept of ‘port-city-region’ in Europe, exploring patterns of urban growth, maritime logistics, and institutional governance. This foundational objective addressed the need for clearer conceptualization and better understanding of how ports interact spatially, economically, and politically with their surrounding regions.
Second, to employ advanced geospatial mapping and visualization methods to investigate and understand the complex dynamics of port-related flows—such as cargo, passengers, and knowledge—within these port-city-regions. This objective tackled the significant need for robust, data-driven insights to inform policymakers, urban planners, and stakeholders about the spatial impacts of maritime logistics on urban development.
Third, to formulate actionable policy recommendations aimed at integrating port operations more sustainably into urban and regional planning processes. Given the ongoing environmental and socio-economic pressures facing port cities, this objective sought to provide policymakers and stakeholders with effective strategies for enhancing sustainability, fostering economic resilience, and ensuring socially inclusive growth in maritime regions.
Social sciences and humanities disciplines played a central role throughout RePortFlows, particularly through urban studies, geography, economics, sociology, and governance studies. These disciplines enabled a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay between global maritime dynamics and local urban contexts. For instance, the project critically explored governance structures and institutional frameworks that shape spatial policies and urban planning decisions, emphasizing human and social dimensions such as quality of life, equitable urban development, and stakeholder engagement.
Through its innovative conceptual approach and robust empirical analyses, the RePortFlows project directly aligns with strategic European policy priorities, notably the European Green Deal and sustainable urban development goals. Its findings offer practical guidance to local and regional authorities, port administrators, urban planners, policymakers, and community stakeholders on managing port-city-region development sustainably and inclusively. Ultimately, RePortFlows contributes to Europe’s broader ambition of fostering resilient, sustainable, and socially cohesive urban and regional environments, demonstrating how ports can serve as catalysts for innovative economic growth, environmental sustainability, and social well-being in the face of global challenges.
The RePortFlows project successfully implemented a series of interconnected research activities structured into four main Work Packages (WPs), achieving notable scientific and technical outcomes. These activities combined theoretical development, advanced empirical research, geospatial data analytics, and policy-oriented analysis, significantly advancing knowledge about European port-city-regions.
Work Package 1 (Theoretical Framework and Taxonomy)
In WP1, the project undertook an extensive systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. This review encompassed over 200 peer-reviewed publications and generated a detailed thematic taxonomy of port-city interactions, identifying critical gaps and needs within the literature. A significant achievement was the formulation of an innovative conceptual framework that redefined port-city-regions as dynamic 'spaces of flows,' incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives from urban studies, geography, sociology, governance, and maritime economics.
Work Package 2 (Atlas of Spaces of Flows)
WP2 focused on developing and applying advanced geospatial mapping methods to the selected case studies of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Genoa (Italy). The main technical activities involved data collection from multiple authoritative sources (e.g. port authorities, Eurostat, local municipalities) and sophisticated spatial analyses using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The resulting comprehensive digital atlas visualized critical logistical, economic, demographic, and environmental flows within these port-city-regions. A significant outcome of WP2 was the creation of detailed geospatial datasets and maps that revealed previously underexplored relationships between maritime logistics, urban morphology, land use changes, and regional economic patterns.
Work Package 3 (Policy Toolbox)
WP3 concentrated on developing policy-relevant insights derived from the empirical research findings. The activities included comparative analysis of existing Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) frameworks and urban development policies in the North Sea (Rotterdam) and West Mediterranean (Genoa) regions. The outcomes of WP3 included the formulation of concrete, evidence-based policy recommendations aiming to improve governance structures, strengthen land-sea interaction integration, enhance urban resilience, and promote sustainable development practices within EU port-city contexts.
Work Package 4 (Dissemination and Open Science)
Although detailed communication and exploitation activities are reported separately, WP4 played an essential scientific role by integrating Open Science practices throughout the project’s lifecycle. Key technical activities included developing and maintaining a Data Management Plan (DMP) that ensurs data interoperability, and actively sharing research methodologies, analytical frameworks, and results through open-access publications and platforms.
Main Scientific and Technical Achievements
- Multidisciplinary Conceptual Framework: Successfully developed and validated an innovative theoretical model addressing the complex interplay of spatial, economic, and governance dimensions within European port-city-regions.
- Systematic Literature Review and Thematic Taxonomy: Conducted an exhaustive literature analysis identifying key research themes, methodological gaps, and future research agendas, serving as a foundational reference for subsequent empirical work and policy analysis.
- Advanced Geospatial Atlas: Produced detailed spatial mappings of logistic flows, urban transformations, and socio-economic dynamics, creating robust tools for evidence-based decision-making applicable to other port-city contexts.
- Policy Recommendations and Governance Insights: Delivered targeted and actionable recommendations to improve sustainable urban-port integration, strengthen MSP frameworks, and enhance resilience and sustainability within regional development strategies.
- Open Science Implementation: Consistently applied best practices in data management, reproducibility, and transparency, significantly contributing to the broader academic and policy communities through open access dissemination.
Work Package 1 (Theoretical Framework and Taxonomy)
In WP1, the project undertook an extensive systematic literature review using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) methodology. This review encompassed over 200 peer-reviewed publications and generated a detailed thematic taxonomy of port-city interactions, identifying critical gaps and needs within the literature. A significant achievement was the formulation of an innovative conceptual framework that redefined port-city-regions as dynamic 'spaces of flows,' incorporating multidisciplinary perspectives from urban studies, geography, sociology, governance, and maritime economics.
Work Package 2 (Atlas of Spaces of Flows)
WP2 focused on developing and applying advanced geospatial mapping methods to the selected case studies of Rotterdam (Netherlands) and Genoa (Italy). The main technical activities involved data collection from multiple authoritative sources (e.g. port authorities, Eurostat, local municipalities) and sophisticated spatial analyses using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The resulting comprehensive digital atlas visualized critical logistical, economic, demographic, and environmental flows within these port-city-regions. A significant outcome of WP2 was the creation of detailed geospatial datasets and maps that revealed previously underexplored relationships between maritime logistics, urban morphology, land use changes, and regional economic patterns.
Work Package 3 (Policy Toolbox)
WP3 concentrated on developing policy-relevant insights derived from the empirical research findings. The activities included comparative analysis of existing Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) frameworks and urban development policies in the North Sea (Rotterdam) and West Mediterranean (Genoa) regions. The outcomes of WP3 included the formulation of concrete, evidence-based policy recommendations aiming to improve governance structures, strengthen land-sea interaction integration, enhance urban resilience, and promote sustainable development practices within EU port-city contexts.
Work Package 4 (Dissemination and Open Science)
Although detailed communication and exploitation activities are reported separately, WP4 played an essential scientific role by integrating Open Science practices throughout the project’s lifecycle. Key technical activities included developing and maintaining a Data Management Plan (DMP) that ensurs data interoperability, and actively sharing research methodologies, analytical frameworks, and results through open-access publications and platforms.
Main Scientific and Technical Achievements
- Multidisciplinary Conceptual Framework: Successfully developed and validated an innovative theoretical model addressing the complex interplay of spatial, economic, and governance dimensions within European port-city-regions.
- Systematic Literature Review and Thematic Taxonomy: Conducted an exhaustive literature analysis identifying key research themes, methodological gaps, and future research agendas, serving as a foundational reference for subsequent empirical work and policy analysis.
- Advanced Geospatial Atlas: Produced detailed spatial mappings of logistic flows, urban transformations, and socio-economic dynamics, creating robust tools for evidence-based decision-making applicable to other port-city contexts.
- Policy Recommendations and Governance Insights: Delivered targeted and actionable recommendations to improve sustainable urban-port integration, strengthen MSP frameworks, and enhance resilience and sustainability within regional development strategies.
- Open Science Implementation: Consistently applied best practices in data management, reproducibility, and transparency, significantly contributing to the broader academic and policy communities through open access dissemination.
The RePortFlows project delivered significant advancements beyond the current state of the art, enhancing our understanding of port-city-region dynamics through innovative theoretical insights, rigorous methodological developments, and impactful policy-oriented recommendations.
Innovative conceptual framework:
RePortFlows developed a unique multidisciplinary framework that redefines port-city-regions as dynamic "spaces of flows," highlighting their complex interactions across logistical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions. By transcending traditional, isolated perspectives of ports and urban areas, this framework has paved the way for more integrated analyses and strategies that combine urban planning, maritime economics, and governance studies.
Advanced geospatial methodologies:
A significant methodological innovation of the project was the use of advanced geospatial mapping and visualization techniques. Comprehensive maps and digital atlases created during the project have provided novel insights into how cargo, passenger, and information flows impact urban landscapes in port cities. These tools are adaptable and can be applied to other port-city contexts, significantly enhancing the replicability and scalability of the research results.
Policy and governance innovations:
Another key achievement was the comprehensive set of policy recommendations designed to foster sustainable integration between port operations and urban-regional development. Notably, the project highlighted crucial policy innovations, such as enhancing Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) practices, particularly emphasizing the often-overlooked land-sea interaction (LSI) dimension. By providing clear, actionable strategies tailored to the specific challenges faced by cities like Rotterdam and Genoa, the project results are directly applicable to policymakers, planners, and stakeholders seeking to ensure more sustainable and inclusive growth.
Stakeholder engagement model:
The project's participatory, co-creative approach to stakeholder engagement, exemplified by the multistakeholder workshops, represents a model beyond conventional academic dissemination. This approach facilitated direct collaboration among academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and local communities. It generated practical, consensus-driven visions and recommendations, significantly enhancing the real-world applicability of the results and the likelihood of their successful adoption by local and regional stakeholders.
Further research and demonstration:
Additional comparative studies and pilot projects in other European port cities would strengthen the applicability of the proposed policy tools and methodologies. Further empirical research would also refine and validate the conceptual framework, ensuring its robustness across diverse geographical and governance contexts.
Innovative conceptual framework:
RePortFlows developed a unique multidisciplinary framework that redefines port-city-regions as dynamic "spaces of flows," highlighting their complex interactions across logistical, economic, social, and environmental dimensions. By transcending traditional, isolated perspectives of ports and urban areas, this framework has paved the way for more integrated analyses and strategies that combine urban planning, maritime economics, and governance studies.
Advanced geospatial methodologies:
A significant methodological innovation of the project was the use of advanced geospatial mapping and visualization techniques. Comprehensive maps and digital atlases created during the project have provided novel insights into how cargo, passenger, and information flows impact urban landscapes in port cities. These tools are adaptable and can be applied to other port-city contexts, significantly enhancing the replicability and scalability of the research results.
Policy and governance innovations:
Another key achievement was the comprehensive set of policy recommendations designed to foster sustainable integration between port operations and urban-regional development. Notably, the project highlighted crucial policy innovations, such as enhancing Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) practices, particularly emphasizing the often-overlooked land-sea interaction (LSI) dimension. By providing clear, actionable strategies tailored to the specific challenges faced by cities like Rotterdam and Genoa, the project results are directly applicable to policymakers, planners, and stakeholders seeking to ensure more sustainable and inclusive growth.
Stakeholder engagement model:
The project's participatory, co-creative approach to stakeholder engagement, exemplified by the multistakeholder workshops, represents a model beyond conventional academic dissemination. This approach facilitated direct collaboration among academics, industry professionals, policymakers, and local communities. It generated practical, consensus-driven visions and recommendations, significantly enhancing the real-world applicability of the results and the likelihood of their successful adoption by local and regional stakeholders.
Further research and demonstration:
Additional comparative studies and pilot projects in other European port cities would strengthen the applicability of the proposed policy tools and methodologies. Further empirical research would also refine and validate the conceptual framework, ensuring its robustness across diverse geographical and governance contexts.