SACM - United Kingdom
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://drepo.sdl.edu.sa/handle/20.500.14154/9667
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Item Restricted Optimal Placement of Fixed and Mobile Primary Healthcare Centers During Hajj(University of Edinburgh, 2024-08) Alomari, Maram; Kalcsics, JorgThis dissertation explores the optimal placement of fixed and mobile primary healthcare centers (PHCCs) to serve pilgrims during the Hajj in Makkah, focusing specifically on the holy sites of Mina, Muzdalifah, and Arafat, and the transportation network connecting these areas. The immense influx of pilgrims places significant demands on the healthcare system, necessitating precise planning and management. To address this, we first define the geographical scope and key locations impacted by the event. We then employ an agent-based modeling approach integrated with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to simulate pilgrim movements over the course of the Hajj. Subsequently, we analyze the capacities, costs, and operational parameters of both fixed (FPHCC) and mobile (MPHCC) primary healthcare centers. An integer programming model is formulated to determine the strategic placement and reallocation of these centers across 14 time periods, aiming to minimize setup, operational, and mobility costs associated with each type of center. Constraints include limited numbers of MPHCCs, restricted capacities, maximum allowable distances between demand points and PHCCs, and minimum coverage requirements. We then adjust key parameters such as maximum distance and minimum coverage to examine their impact on the solution and the resulting adjustments in PHCC locations. This analysis offers insights into how strategic healthcare deployment during Hajj can effectively meet the fluctuating demands of pilgrims, ensuring accessible and efficient healthcare coverage. The findings contribute to the broader field of healthcare logistics, particularly in the context of large-scale religious gatherings, providing a framework for improved healthcare readiness and response during similar events globally.26 0Item Restricted An Urban Management Framework for Crowd Movements in Hajj: A User-Centric Approach(University of Leeds, 2024-08) Kadi, Abdulrahman Omar; Selim, GehanThis thesis explores the complexities of urban management in the context of crowd movements during mega-events, with a particular focus on the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. The research aims to develop a user-centred management framework that enhances both crowd movement conditions and user experience, addressing the limitations of traditional top-down management approaches. Through a multidisciplinary approach that integrates theories from event management, crowd dynamics, and user experience, the study offers a novel perspective on managing large-scale gatherings, where the safety and satisfaction of participants are paramount. The research establishes the importance of urban management in facilitating effective crowd movements during mega-events, particularly addressing the unique challenges of Hajj, a religious event in Makkah that annually draws millions of pilgrims. The study identifies critical variables and correlations within urban management, event activities, and user experience, highlighting the need for a user-centric approach. The research examines urban management variables influencing crowd movements and analyses existing literature in order to identify gaps in the current understanding of crowd dynamics, particularly the formation and impact of collective behaviour during mass gatherings. A significant focus is placed on the pivotal role of user experience in shaping innovative crowd management strategies, employing tools such as User Journey Mapping (UJM) to dissect the collective experiences of pilgrims. The thesis further contextualises the study with a historical background of the Islamic pilgrimage, detailing the Holy Sites' rituals, circulation patterns, and significance. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, including surveys, interviews, and observational studies, to gather data during Hajj in 2021 and 2022. This data presents an in-depth analysis of crowd movement conditions during Hajj, identifying key challenges and proposing strategies to improve crowd control and user experience. The analysis from the user's perspective identifies touchpoints that influence crowd dynamics and underscores the importance of considering users' needs, expectations, and experiences in designing effective crowd management strategies. Moreover, the research introduces an urban management framework comprising three overarching themes: Event Management, Crowd Movement, and User Experience, each divided into sub-themes that collectively form a comprehensive approach to managing crowd movements during mega-events. The research synthesises these findings, relating them to the initial research questions and theoretical framework. It advocates for a user-centric strategy prioritising inclusivity, safety, and user satisfaction. It introduces the User-Centric Management Canvas (UCMC), a practical tool designed to guide event organisers in adopting this new approach. This framework offers a structured yet flexible method adaptable to various mega-event contexts. In conclusion, this thesis marks a significant contribution to urban management, providing a blueprint for future research and practical applications in crowd management. It sets the stage for a paradigm shift towards more empathetic and effective management of mega-events, potentially enhancing participants' safety and spiritual fulfilment at events like Hajj, with global applicability to other large-scale events.22 0Item Restricted How Shared Social Identity and Social Norms Shape Risk-Taking at Mass Gatherings(The University of Edinburgh, 2024-07-15) Alhajri, Waleed; Templeton, Anne; Moore, AdamMass gatherings have long been recognised as posing substantial public health risks. Prior research, primarily from a medical perspective, has often placed considerable emphasis on various physical risk factors associated with shaping health risks at mass gatherings. This mixed-method thesis, however, adopts a social identity perspective to investigate the ways in which psychosocial factors contribute to health risks associated with mass gatherings. Chapter 2 presents a comprehensive systematic review of the literature of risks at mass gatherings, with a primary focus on social norms associated with shaping risks at mass gatherings. Chapter 3 provides initial empirical evidence across three pre-registered imaginary-based online experiments of how shared social identity interacts with perceived social norms to increase the likelihood of engaging in risk-taking behaviours, such as resource-sharing associated with elevating infectious diseases transmissions at mass gatherings. Chapter 4, however, moves beyond quantitative methods, utilising in-depth semi-structured online interviews to explore shared Muslim identity processes among pilgrims in relation to health risks associated with the Hajj. Chapter 5 further explores shared Muslim identity processes among pilgrims, this time in relation to maintaining safety within the Hajj context. Together, findings from Chapters 2-5 offer empirical evidence of how social identity processes, specifically shared social identity and social norms, influence risk-taking behaviours associated with shaping health risks at mass gatherings. This mixed-method thesis also presents theoretical, methodological, and practical implications for building effective health risk mitigation strategies to reduce the burden of health risks and facilitate the safety and well-being of attendees at mass gatherings.36 0Item Restricted The United Kingdom Muslims' Perspectives Toward Tourism in Saudi Arabia After Hajj or Umrah(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-12-19) Alshamrani, Zuher; Hooper, NicolaMillions of pilgrims visit Saudi Arabia annually to perform the religious duties of 'Hajj and Umrah'. This research aims to explore the willingness of UK pilgrims to engage in tourism activities after Hajj or Umrah by examining the literature on tourism and public relations in Saudi Arabia. A survey was used to measure attitudes, while focus groups were used to explore these attitudes in greater depth. Data was collected from 109 UK Muslim participants, and the results indicated that most were subsequently willing to engage in tourism activities. Almost a quarter of the participants expressed that they have a moral or religious conflict when mixing Hajj or Umrah with tourism. Their main interests regarding tourism in Saudi Arabia are visiting Islamic landmarks and local cuisines, while their main concerns are hot weather and financial costs. The image they hold regarding tourism in Saudi Arabia is associated with religion, as it is the country that contains Islamic sanctities and offers nothing else. The majority of UK pilgrims lack awareness of the tourism opportunities in Saudi Arabia, and receive the information they do acquire from social media. Public relations can play a crucial role in enhancing the image of the Saudi tourism sector, addressing misconceptions, raising awareness of the available tourism opportunities, and developing mutual understanding with the target audiences. This can be achieved by considering pilgrims as the main stakeholder, adopting the Two-Way Symmetrical Model as a framework for communication, and applying a Change Model. This research provides an overview of UK Muslims’ perspectives towards the Saudi tourism sector and discusses the role of PR in promoting Saudi Arabia as an attractive destination. The research aims to help public relations practitioners in the Saudi tourism sector attract more tourists.21 0Item Restricted A Mixed-Methods Study to Investigate the Awareness by Pilgrims and the Saudi Authorities of Health Risks Arising From the Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia(Saudi Digital Library, 2023-09-28) Almehmadi, Mater; David, AlexanderOne of the most important factors in developing preventative measures is awareness of health risks among public authorities and the public themselves. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020-2023 has exposed significant weaknesses in public health systems that need to be addressed, although research has so far been limited with respect to studies that have explored the perceptions of both the public and authorities about the uptake of preventative health measures. As it is the host of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, Saudi Arabia offers a good case study of the health management of one of the biggest mass gatherings in the world. Although the health strategy here usually involves an array of preventative measures, the uptake among pilgrims is extremely low. As a case study exploring the factors that determine uptake, the Hajj pilgrimage is approached in this dissertation using a mixed methodology for the collection of data from the officials of the Hajj and the individuals who participate in it. Some 280 participants were canvassed in the quantitative study. The findings are that 94% considered the Hajj to be safe and limited themselves to taking pre-travel advice on health, while 70% of the respondents reported the diversity of the pilgrims to be the main factor threatening health outcomes. Overall, the study reported a significant shortfall in pilgrims’ perception of the health risks associated with the Hajj pilgrimage. Qualitative research was then utilised to collect data from 17 Hajj officials, using semi-structured interviews followed by thematic analysis. The key themes that emerged in the analysis include, first, the safety of the Hajj as perceived by Saudi officials; secondly, in the face of health risks, how the safety of pilgrims is maintained by Saudi officials; thirdly, avoiding the health risks of the Hajj pilgrimage; fourthly holding training sessions for the Hajj workers; fifthly, the pilgrims’ awareness of health risks; sixthly, the education of pilgrims about health risk in their individual countries; and finally, the use of new technologies to raise the pilgrims’ awareness about health instructions and measure their satisfaction regarding the outcomes.21 0