Modeling a Plan for Seaport Investments through a System Dynamics Approach

Abstract. This paper aims at illustrating the execution of the System Dynamics technique in its “systemic” version, with reference to a simulation in a regional seaport perspective, identifying both the implications in terms of decision making and economic impact, and the information system proposed by the model. The smashing growth of the containers’ traffic within the Mediterranean seaports has forced most of the local governments to rethink the development policies of infrastructures, so to better match the new market requests. The idea that the efficiency of seaports may also lead to an economic development of the involved area, with beneficial social effects, like a growing number of employment opportunities, as both a direct and a side effect, is amongst the main reasons. The advantage of a dynamical approach is the ability to linearly depict the several relationships occurring amongst the different subjects involved, with increased advantages as opposite to more traditional approaches, like the “Costs-Benefits” model or the “Multi-criteria” techniques. Herein, we don’t limit our approach to simply show how to apply the “System Dynamics” to a seaport, but we also show its application for the analysis which can be conducted to policy the supporting activities of maritime transportation