Environmental Engineering Innovations for Sustainable Green Port Infrastructure: A Comprehensive Framework Integrating Technology and Maritime Education

Abstract

This research examines the integration of environmental engineering innovations, advanced technologies, and maritime vocational education in developing sustainable green port infrastructure in Indonesian ports. Employing a mixed-methods approach combining semi-structured interviews with 15 maritime stakeholders and case study analyses of three exemplary ports, this study evaluates five critical sustainability dimensions: energy efficiency, waste management, sustainable logistics, technological monitoring systems, and workforce competency development. The study's unique contribution lies in quantifying the synergistic effects of technology-education integration, demonstrating that ports implementing coordinated technological and human capital strategies achieve superior sustainability outcomes. Results reveal substantial improvements including 35% energy consumption reduction through renewable integration and layout optimization, 40% waste recycling efficiency enhancement via automated systems, and 25% logistics emission reduction through digitalization. Graduate preparedness for implementing green technologies showed 95% effectiveness, establishing a direct link between curriculum alignment and operational sustainability outcomes. Performance evaluation across five indicators yielded an aggregate effectiveness score of 9.0/10.0, validated through stakeholder assessments and operational metrics. However, implementation faces significant barriers including high initial capital requirements (estimated 15-30% cost premium), technological complexity requiring specialized training, and stakeholder coordination challenges. This research uniquely bridges the gap between technological innovation and workforce development, demonstrating that sustainable port transformation requires simultaneous investment in both advanced systems and human capital. The findings provide evidence-based strategies for port authorities, policymakers, and educational institutions pursuing integrated sustainability frameworks, contributing empirical insights to the global maritime decarbonization agenda.