Logistics of Port Cities and Urban Sustainable Development

A special issue of Urban Science (ISSN 2413-8851). This special issue belongs to the section "Urban Planning and Design".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 1070

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Maritime Logistics and Management, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Maritime Studies, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: transport economics; manufacturing; supply chain management; logistics; urban planning
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Maritime Logistics and Management, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Maritime Studies, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
Interests: seaport economics; port regions and port cities; sustainable development

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department for Multidisciplinary Fields, University of Rijeka, Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 51410 Opatija, Croatia
Interests: sustainable development; ecological footprint; carbon footprint; natural resources; tourism

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to this Special Issue, entitled “Logistics of Port Cities and Urban Sustainable Development”, of Urban Science, an open access journal published by MDPI.

Port cities play a crucial role in global trade, yet they face unique challenges related to environmental sustainability, economic resilience, and social equity. As key nodes in international logistic networks, these cities must balance the demands of high-volume transportation with the imperatives of urban development, climate adaptation, and community well-being. The increasing pressure from climate change, coupled with rapid urbanization and technological advancements, calls for innovative solutions that integrate the efficiency of logistics with sustainable urban policies.

This Special Issue seeks to explore the intersections of port logistics, urban sustainability, and resilience planning by addressing topics such as the following:

  • Sustainable logistics and supply chain strategies for port cities;
  • The environmental impact of port operations and mitigation strategies;
  • Urban planning and governance models for sustainable port city development;
  • The role of digitalization and smart technologies in optimizing port logistics;
  • Socioeconomic impacts of port activities on urban communities;
  • Green infrastructure and climate resilience in port urban areas;
  • The integration of multimodal transport systems for reducing congestion and emissions;
  • Policy frameworks for balancing economic growth with ecological responsibility.

By bringing together research from multiple disciplines, this Special Issue aims to provide insights into how port cities can evolve into models of sustainable urban development while maintaining their role as vital economic hubs. We welcome contributions from scholars and practitioners who offer empirical research, case studies, theoretical discussions, and policy analyses.

We look forward to receiving your submissions.

Dr. Mladen Jardas
Dr. Gorana Mudronja
Dr. Hrvoje Grofelnik
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Urban Science is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • port city logistics
  • sustainable urban development
  • maritime transport
  • green supply chains
  • environmental impact of ports
  • smart ports
  • urban resilience
  • multimodal transport
  • circular economy in port cities
  • port governance and policy
  • socioeconomic impacts of port activities
  • climate adaptation in coastal cities
  • blue economy
  • decarbonization of maritime logistics
  • digitalization in port operations

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (2 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

19 pages, 299 KB  
Article
Do Sustainable Investments in Ports Improve Air Quality in Port Cities? Evidence from European Ports
by Gorana Mudronja, Mladen Jardas and Hrvoje Grofelnik
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(5), 291; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10050291 - 21 May 2026
Abstract
Ports are drivers of economic development, but at the same time, they create significant environmental pressures for port cities. Sustainable port development is an important aspect of urban and logistical planning in European coastal cities, helping to improve local air quality, the quality [...] Read more.
Ports are drivers of economic development, but at the same time, they create significant environmental pressures for port cities. Sustainable port development is an important aspect of urban and logistical planning in European coastal cities, helping to improve local air quality, the quality of life in port cities, and impact sustainable economic development. This research aims to analyze the relationship between investments in sustainable practices implemented in ports and air quality in port cities, based on a sample of five European ports observed from 2013 to 2024. The Fixed Effects (FE) estimation model was used as the estimation technique. The results indicate that higher investments in sustainable practices are associated with lower NO2 concentrations in port cities. This highlights the significance of sustainable investments in improving air quality in port cities while advancing urban sustainability and contributing to economic development. This paper contributes to understanding the role of ports as an important link in the urban energy transition and provides guidelines for further integration of environmental policies into port and city planning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Logistics of Port Cities and Urban Sustainable Development)
12 pages, 244 KB  
Article
Cruise Tourism and Sustainable Urban Mobility: A Contingent Valuation Study of Zadar, Croatia
by Marija Opačak Eror
Urban Sci. 2026, 10(5), 220; https://doi.org/10.3390/urbansci10050220 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 267
Abstract
The concentration of tourist flows along short urban links caused by cruise stops in medium-sized Mediterranean ports exacerbates traffic and localized environmental externalities. This study evaluates the willingness to pay (WTP) of cruise passengers for an electric tram that would connect the Gaženica [...] Read more.
The concentration of tourist flows along short urban links caused by cruise stops in medium-sized Mediterranean ports exacerbates traffic and localized environmental externalities. This study evaluates the willingness to pay (WTP) of cruise passengers for an electric tram that would connect the Gaženica Port with Zadar’s historic center, an intervention designed to cut travel time and reduce on-street congestion and emissions. Over the course of two seasons, a two-wave, two-site, in-person survey was conducted at the port and in the city center. The instrument adopts a double-bounded dichotomous choice (DBDC) contingent valuation design with randomized starting bids that were calibrated using a pre-test that benchmarked prevailing transport pricing. Primary WTP estimates are obtained from a binary choice model with socio-demographic and environmental covariates; whereby inference relies on cluster-robust errors. Robustness is assessed through three complementary checks that do not require additional data: (i) a bivariate specification to account for within-respondent correlation between first and follow-up bids; (ii) Turnbull nonparametric bounds for the interval-censored WTP distribution; and (iii) starting-point tests using split-sample estimation and bid-set indicators. A spike adjustment based on “no–no at the lowest bid” responses is explored where appropriate. Beyond its methodological contribution, this research advances the sustainable tourism development discourse by quantifying visitors’ financial support for low-emission urban mobility infrastructure that mitigates environmental stresses while preserving residential life quality. The results integrate cruise tourist management with the more general goals of resilient and sustainable urban destinations by offering a decision-ready value input for port-city mobility planning in historic Mediterranean centers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Logistics of Port Cities and Urban Sustainable Development)
Back to TopTop