Abstract
This paper describes a system for tracking and identifying pilgrims in the Holy areas in Makkah, Saudi Arabia and the surroundings, during Hajj season (Pilgrimage) using the mobile phone. It utilizes an internet enabled 3.5 G mobile wireless network, as service providers have already covered the Holy area with such networks. The performance of the developed system is compared with a system that uses a Wireless Sensor Network and is interfaced to the internet through a gateway available from a service provider. The developed system uses a regular mobile phone equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS) that is available with most pilgrims, while in the second system a small and light weight mobile sensor unit is given to each pilgrim to be fixed on his Hajj cloths. The sensor unit includes a GPS chip, a microcontroller, antennas, and a battery. A network of fixed master units is installed throughout the Holy area for receiving and forwarding data. In both systems, upon request or periodically, the mobile sensor unit or the mobile phone sends its User IDentification number, latitude, longitude, and a time stamp. A server maps the location information on a Google map or a similar geographical information system. If the internet connection is lost, the mobile unit stores the location information in its memory. Once the internet connection is restored, the mobile unit sends all stored location information and clears this information from the memory. Both systems can be used to track a specific pilgrim. Alternatively, any pilgrim can request emergency help. Identification of pilgrims can be achieved by a separate Near Field Communication (NFC) tags if the mobile phone is not NFC enabled. Pilot experiments were carried out successfully during the recent pilgrimage seasons.