New measures set to stop illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah

Makkah Gov. Prince Khaled Al-Faisal has asked the Institute of Haj Research to oversee a new mechanism to stop illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah, according to Dr. Abdulaziz Al-Soroji, dean of the institute.
Meanwhile, Al-Soroji told local media that the institute was implementing 24 research initiatives, in addition to its 18 permanent programs and seven research studies in Madinah.
The institute has signed a cooperation agreement with the Makkah municipality to make use of its recently completed cultural observatory study.
The institute recently organized an annual meeting for researchers who participated in its various scientific studies and programs, as well as its field services for visitors and pilgrims. The institute has produced 42 research papers, carried out by 70 researchers and 380 students, Al-Soroji said.
The institute supervises five research projects, assigned to a number of government departments. These include a crowd management project, project to supervise the Ministry of Haj strategic plan, the cultural observatory project, and the project to prevent illegal pilgrims from entering Makkah. The institute is entering a competition to benefit from the meat of livestock sacrificed during Haj.
During the meeting, participants reviewed a study by Dr. Ramzi bin Ahmad Al-Zahrani entitled “Voluntary Geographical Information Systems for Haj and Umrah,” and Dr. Walid bin Alsayyed Abu Alsuad presented a research paper about electromagnetic waves of telecom companies’ towers inside the central area of the Grand Mosque and holy sites.
Dr. Mohammad Badaba’n discussed the average journeys pilgrims make from their hotels and residences in Makkah during Haj and Ramadan seasons.
Dr. Othman Qazzaz presented a paper entitled, “Polarizing digital signage and reminder messages; defining digital signage effectiveness outside the Prophet’s Mosque in Madinah.”
Dr. Mahmoud Al-Jamal talked about “building a virtual model for pilgrims outside Ramadan season by using neural networks.”
The meeting concluded with a review of Dr. Mahmoud Al-Sharif’s paper, “Evaluating the services of Miqat Abar Ali in Madinah.”
Head of Umm Al-Qura University, Dr. Bakri bin Matouq Assas, praised the institute’s achievements and research papers, which he said is serving visitors to the two holy mosques and other sacred places. “It is our duty to support the institute, because it offers studies that remove obstacles that stand in the way of pilgrims and facilitates the performance of rites,” he said.