Integrative Technologies for Real-Time Crowd Management: A Case Study of the Hajj
Mishaal M. Almutairi, Dimitra Apostolopoulou, David Stupples, Adnan Ahmed Abi Sen, Mohammad Yamin, George Halikias
Abstract
Crowd management is a very complex process, which requires the integration of many technologies together to create a reliable tool in crowd flow control. The historical events resulting from stampedes are the greatest evidence of the need for an effective solution. Relying on one method is not a reliable solution in such critical systems that require real-time response. The purpose of this research is to develop a smart framework that uses Artificial Intelligence (AI) and other technologies to control and manage crowds. The methodology involved conducting literature review and using a case study of Hajj event to develop a Python-based solution for running the framework. The findings shows that the framework is effective in crowd management, but it would be improved using advanced machine learning techniques. The proposed approach will help government agencies and other bodies to focus on adopting modern levels of technology in crowd management.