Jeddah University students employ artificial intelligence and drones to serve pilgrims
A tour conducted by Al-Youm newspaper at the exhibition accompanying the Health and Security in Hajj Forum revealed an exceptional and remarkable participation by students and researchers from Jeddah University. The university's pavilion showcased a range of pioneering student projects and innovations that utilized modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence and drones, to serve pilgrims in vital areas including health, security, crowd management, and smart communication.
These innovations are an extension of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's historical efforts in serving pilgrims, as Hajj management has witnessed tremendous development over the decades. With the launch of Vision 2030, the concept of "smart Hajj" has emerged as a cornerstone for developing the service system. Technology has proven its ability to overcome the geographical and demographic challenges resulting from the gathering of millions of Muslims in a limited space and at the same time, making these student projects an important step towards achieving the goals of digital transformation.
The University of Jeddah pavilion showcased advanced technological projects based on big data analytics and drones, aimed at supporting crowd management and early emergency detection. The pavilion also featured technological solutions to improve multilingual communication between pilgrims and volunteer teams. In addition, it presented smart real-time monitoring systems , technological demonstrations from the Drones and Data Academy, and field robots supporting operational and service activities in the holy sites to enhance safety levels.
Comprehensive health guidelines for pilgrims
On the health side, Dr. Iman Balbaid, a family medicine consultant at the Medical Services Department of Jeddah University, explained that the department provides integrated health and awareness services.
Dr. Iman Balbaid
These services begin with seasonal and mandatory vaccinations before the Hajj rituals and continue through interactive awareness clinics. She explained that the clinics guide pilgrims on how to use medications for chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes, and on methods to prevent heat exhaustion and sunstroke. She emphasized the importance of balancing the pilgrim's health with their religious observances, launching the slogan, "The wise pilgrim is the one who balances their health with their worship.".
Project “Insight”: Drones for Rapid Response
In the context of technological projects, student Joud Al-Bashri from the Computer and Network Engineering Department presented her project, “Basira.” This is an intelligent system that utilizes drones and artificial intelligence technologies to detect emergencies in real time. The project's concept stems from the need to enhance response speed in crowded environments. The system monitors locations from above, 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 Bazrous, Tala Al-Mashayqah, Lina Nour El-Din, Saja Al-Sawat, and Raghad Al-Shehri, under the supervision of Dr. Rasha Atwa.
Project “Baseer”: Proactive prediction to prevent stampedes
On the other hand, student Rinad Al-Majayshi and her team presented the “Basir” project, which is an intelligent system for preventing crowd stampedes.
Renad Al-Majayshi
The system relies on monitoring gatherings of people via traditional surveillance cameras and analyzing warning signs before they escalate. Al-Majayshi noted that the system predicts potential hazards before they occur, giving security teams ample time to intervene early, under the slogan "Early Warning, Faster Intervention, Protected Lives." The project team includes Raghad Al-Thaqafi, Mayar Hanif, Abrar Habibullah, and Jana Al-Harbi, under the supervision of Sahar Fawzi.
Leading local and international influence
The participation of Jeddah University embodies a strategic direction towards harnessing innovation to serve the Hajj and Umrah system. The impact of these innovations is not limited to the local level in protecting the lives of pilgrims and enhancing response efficiency, but extends regionally and internationally. These technological models for managing massive crowds offer the world a scientific and practical reference that can be utilized in organizing major global events, thus solidifying the Kingdom's position as a leading nation in employing artificial intelligence to serve humanity and achieve the highest standards of security and safety.
