Jeddah female students employ artificial intelligence and drones to serve pilgrims
The Health and Security Forum for Hajj featured an exceptional participation from Jeddah University, where student innovations captivated audiences with their presentation of advanced technological solutions. A press tour highlighted how modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and drones, were harnessed to serve pilgrims in vital areas including health, security, crowd management, and smart communication.
The historical context and digital transformation of Hajj
Historically, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has placed great importance on developing the Hajj and Umrah system. With the increasing number of pilgrims annually, strategies have shifted from traditional crowd management methods to embracing comprehensive digital transformation. These student innovations are a natural extension of the "Serving the Guests of God" program, one of the most important programs of the Kingdom's Vision 2030, which aims to bring about a qualitative leap in the pilgrim experience and facilitate the performance of rituals with ease and peace of mind by integrating the latest global technologies.
The importance of innovations and their local and international impact
The significance of these projects lies in their multifaceted impact. Locally, they reflect the empowerment of Saudi youth, particularly women, in the fields of science and technology. Regionally and internationally, the success of these technologies in a complex and crowded environment like the Hajj season provides a global model for managing millions of pilgrims, further solidifying the Kingdom's position as a leader in utilizing technology to ensure the safety of millions of Muslims.
Comprehensive health guidelines for pilgrims to the House of God
On the health front, Dr. Iman Balbaid, a family medicine consultant at the Medical Services Department of Jeddah University, affirmed that the department provides a comprehensive system of health and awareness services. These services begin with seasonal and essential vaccinations before the Hajj rituals and extend to interactive clinics offering detailed guidance on managing chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. The campaigns also focus on raising awareness about the dangers of heat exhaustion and sunstroke, emphasizing the principle that "the wise pilgrim is the one who balances their health with their religious observance.".
Project “Insight”: Drones for Emergency Detection
Among the most prominent technological projects showcased was the “Insight” project, presented by student Joud Al-Bashri from the Computer and Network Engineering Department. This smart system utilizes drones and artificial intelligence technologies to detect emergencies in real time. The project's concept stems from the critical need for rapid response in crowded environments. The system monitors locations from the air, analyzes scenes using computer vision, and then sends immediate alerts, supported by geolocation and live streaming, to the relevant authorities. The team includes students Joud Al-Bashri, Arwa Ba-Dheer, Tala Al-Mashayqah, Lina Nour El-Din, Saja Al-Sawat, and Raghad Al-Shehri, under the supervision of Dr. Rasha Atwa.
Project “Basir”: Smart prediction to prevent stampedes
In a related context, student Renad Al-Majrashi and her team presented the “Baseer” project, an intelligent system designed to prevent crowd stampedes. The system works by analyzing human gatherings via traditional surveillance cameras, using artificial intelligence algorithms to detect dangerous indicators before they escalate. The system doesn't just monitor; it predicts potential risks, giving security teams ample time to intervene early, under the motto “Early warning, faster intervention, and lives protected.” Raghad Al-Thaqafi, Mayar Hanif, Abrar Habibullah, and Jana Al-Harbi are participating in this project, under the supervision of Professor Sahar Fawzi.
This active participation of Jeddah University embodies the commitment of Saudi academic institutions to support innovation and develop quality solutions that raise the efficiency of response and enhance the quality of services provided to pilgrims, in full line with the objectives of technological transformation and the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.
