Analytics driven master planning for Mecca: Increasing the capacity while maintaining the spiritual context of HAJJ pilgrimage

Approximately 3 million pilgrims visit Mecca in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia each year to fulfill a religious obligation and perform rituals concentrated around few iconic Muslim landmarks, including Kaaba. Mecca is unarguably the most congested public space in the world with densities often exceeding 6 people per square meter causing comfort, safety and security issues. This dense concentration of people in a short time period calls for careful design and operational planning to ensure safe, secure and efficient pilgrim movements. We used queuing theory to determine the feasibility of options, discrete-event simulation to mimic the pilgrim movements, traffic flow theory to understand macro movements across town, and vehicular simulation models to test the concepts for mechanized movement solutions for elderly and handicapped. The master plan analytics formed the basis for architectural design and alterations. The overall design is able to provide a safer and more efficient journey for pilgrims.