A Framework for Comprehensive Crowd and Hajj Management

Thousands of people have lost their lives due to the mismanagement of crowds leading to stampedes, fires, flooding and other preventable disasters. The aim of this paper is to propose a comprehensive framework for crowd management, which so far remains to be an underdeveloped practice in many countries. The proposed framework is designed to provide a comprehensive solution to all issues related to crowds with the help of the latest technologies including Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs), Cloud and Fog Commuting, Internet of Things, Machine Learning, Digital Cities, and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). The proposed framework is provided in the context of Hajj, an annual, intense and complex crowded event which takes place at Makkah (Mecca) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The proposed framework can easily be adapted to other crowded events like Kumbh, Arbaeen and sporting events.