Urban Development of Bayn Al-Haramayn Zone Based on 25-Year Estimation of Al-Arbaeen Crowd Density

Karbala city is known to host one of the largest annual human gatherings in the world, where a diverse group of visitors congregates in the Karbala old city to participate in the Al-Arbaeen rites. This significant event peaked on Safar 19th, resulting in mobility issues, particularly in the Bayn Al-Haramayn zone. To address this concern, this study proposes a plan that estimates the number of visitors over the next 25 years and presents a solution for the vertical expansion of the zone while maintaining its urban fabric. The proposal includes estimating the areas required to accommodate the visitors based on an average crowd density of 3.5 individuals per square meter. The authors predict that the number of pilgrims will continue to increase over the next 25 years, and by 2046, an area of 148 square kilometers will be necessary to accommodate them. Expanding the Bayn Al-Haramayn zone is crucial as it is a vital destination for many visitors, and its spiritual significance adds value to the experience of performing the Ziyarat-Alarbaeen rituals. The proposed solution focuses on vertical expansion, providing a total area of 10, 116 m2 and can accommodate up to 35, 500 capita. Moreover, the proposed solution also integrates mobility paths that align with the urban scene of the area

A Communication Architecture for Crowd Management in Emergency and Disruptive Scenarios

Crowd management aims to develop support infrastructures that can effectively manage crowds at any time. In emergency and disruptive scenarios this concept can minimize the risk to human life and to the infrastructure. We propose the Communication Architecture for Crowd Management (CACROM), which can support crowd management under emergency and disruptive scenarios. We identify, describe, and discuss the various components of the proposed architecture, and we briefly discuss open challenges in the design of crowd management systems for emergency and disruptive scenarios

Internet-of-Things Architectures for Secure Cyber-Physical Spaces: the VISOR Experience Report

Internet of things (IoT) technologies are becoming a more and more widespread part of civilian life in common urban spaces, which are rapidly turning into cyber-physical spaces. Simultaneously, the fear of terrorism and crime in such public spaces is ever-increasing. Due to the resulting increased demand for security, video-based IoT surveillance systems have become an important area for research. Considering the large number of devices involved in the illicit recognition task, we conducted a field study in a Dutch Easter music festival in a national interest project called VISOR to select the most appropriate device configuration in terms of performance and results. We iteratively architected solutions for the security of cyber-physical spaces using IoT devices. We tested the performance of multiple federated devices encompassing drones, closed-circuit television, smart phone cameras, and smart glasses to detect real-case scenarios of potentially malicious activities such as mosh-pits and pick-pocketing. Our results pave the way to select optimal IoT architecture configurations -- i.e., a mix of CCTV, drones, smart glasses, and camera phones in our case -- to make safer cyber-physical spaces' a reality

Applying Crowd Risk Mitigation Technologies in Urban Sport Events: A Case Analysis of the Collegiate Football Event in Indianapolis, IN

In recent years, the need for advanced precautions for mitigating the risks imposed by events, which involve high volumes of people in shared spaces, has multiplied. The occurrence of COVID-19 pandemic has further altered event practices, spaces, and event attendees’ mindsets in large-scale events. Proper crowd management not only seeks to prevent acts of violence and injury, but in today’s event environments; efforts should be consciously applied to reduce the spread of respiratory infections such as COVID-19. As the events industry continues to evolve and face new limitations, ways in which event organizers respond must evolve as well. Smartphone technologies are opening new ways for event organizers to communicate with and monitor attendees. This case study explores current crowd management strategies, analyzes the gaps in widely used models, and finally proposes event management technologies trending in the field

A roadmap for the future of crowd safety research and practice: Introducing the Swiss Cheese Model of Crowd Safety and the imperative of a Vision Zero target

Crowds can be subject to intrinsic and extrinsic sources of risk, and previous records have shown that, in the absence of adequate safety measures, these sources of risk can jeopardise human lives. To mitigate these risks, we propose that implementation of multiple layers of safety measures for crowds—what we label The Swiss Cheese Model of Crowd Safety—should become the norm for crowd safety practice. Such system incorporates a multitude of safety protection layers including regulations and policymaking, planning and risk assessment, operational control, community preparedness, and incident response. The underlying premise of such model is that when one (or multiple) layer(s) of safety protection fail(s), the other layer(s) can still prevent an accident. In practice, such model requires a more effective implementation of technology, which can enable provision of real-time data, improved communication and coordination, and efficient incident response. Moreover, implementation of this model necessitates more attention to the overlooked role of public education, awareness raising, and promoting crowd safety culture at broad community levels, as one of last lines of defence against catastrophic outcomes for crowds. Widespread safety culture and awareness has the potential to empower individuals with the knowledge and skills that can prevent such outcomes or mitigate their impacts, when all other (exogenous) layers of protection (such as planning and operational control) fail. This requires safety campaigns and development of widespread educational programs. We conclude that, there is no panacea solution to the crowd safety problem, but a holistic multi-layered safety system that utilises active participation of all potential stakeholders can significantly reduce the likelihood of disastrous accidents. At a global level, we need to target a Vision Zero of Crowd Safety, i.e., set a global initiative of bringing deaths and severe injuries in crowded spaces to zero by a set year

Effectiveness of the Nigerian emergency management system with respect to building collapses, human stampedes and electrical power failures

One response to disaster incidents in Nigeria is to improve institutional preparedness and strengthen the capacity of the organisations involved. This requires adequate resources, improved communication and enhanced operations of the national emergency operations centre (EOC) to intensify coordination and better allocate resources. Factors affecting vulnerability to disasters such as building collapses, stampedes and blackouts, and the capacity of Nigeria’s emergency management organisations (considering resource availability, communication ability and operations of the EOC), were evaluated for the six main organisations involved in emergency response in Nigeria: National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Federal Road Safety Corps and National Hospital. Qualitative and quantitative approaches involving questionnaires and interviews were used. Poor housing and infrastructure, lack of disaster education, socio-economic challenges and institutional failures are the main factors that affect vulnerability to building collapses in Nigeria. Institutional failures, political issues and lack of disaster education affect blackouts, while socio-economic factors, institutional failures, political issues and lack of disaster education predominantly affect vulnerability to stampedes. Despite the need to have available resources, effective communications and functional EOCs, it appears that effective response and the implementation of emergency response activities in Nigeria are hindered by lack of adequate resources, lack of resource-sharing networks between federal, state and local government, lack of accountability, inadequate availability of equipment such as mobile phones and radios, and absence of communication networks such as LAN and WAN. Location and accessibility of each EOC, communication ability within the centre, and resources available to the EOC significantly influence the success or failure of operations of the EOC, which in return affects coordination, cooperation and integration among different levels of government and other organisations involved. In conclusion, there is a need for an emergency management plan that includes all elements and enhances resource availability and utilisation, effective communication, and coordination and allocation of resources to prevent, mitigate and respond rapidly to disasters