Abstract
•A land-sea coordination system is constructed.•An initial indicator system is established based on analysis of influential factors using questionnaires.•Structural equation modeling is applied to screen the initial indicators.•Reliability and validity analysis of the screened indicator system is conducted to verify its feasibility.•The screened indicator system is suitable for evaluating standard ports.
The evaluation of the development of a land-sea coordination system, including how to measure success, remains a significant subject for exploration among researchers and practitioners. The main challenge in this subject is to establish a suitable indicator system. In this paper, we propose a novel approach to construct an indicator system to evaluate the development of a land-sea coordination system. We take Lianyungang port as a case study. A land-sea coordination system is considered as composed by three sub-systems, i.e., a land-side sub-system, a sea-side sub-system, and a port sub-system. Based on analysis of influential factors using questionnaires for the development of a land-sea coordination system, an initial indicator system is established. We apply structural equation modeling to screen the indicators from the initial indicator system. Finally, we analyze the reliability and validity of the screened indicator system. The results show that a total of 26 indicators are generated and grouped into three major categories: (1) economic development; (2) service system; (3) resources and environment, and the screened indicator system is of suitable feasibility to be applied to evaluate the development of the considered land-sea coordination system. Additionally, the results provide a scientific reference and decision-making basis for policy formulation and development evaluation of standard ports.