| Author(s) | Hussam M. Ramadan* and Sahl A. Al-Sabban** |
| Affiliation | * Department of Information Systems, College of Computer and Information Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ** Assistant Deputy Minister for Projects and Holy Sites, Ministry of Hajj |
| Title | Performance Analysis of the New Shuttle-bus Pilgrim Transportation System for the Pilgrims of South East Asia in the 1424 Hajj Season Using Computer Simulation Models |
| Source | Journal of King Saud University. Engineering Sciences. Volume 19, No 1. (2007/1427) |
| Abstract | The shuttle-bus pilgrim transportation system is among the most successful solutions to the traffic congestion problem during Al-Nafrah. This system has proven effective since it was first applied on the pilgrims of Turkey, Europe, America and Australia in the 1416H Hajj season. This success has motivated its recent expansion to include pilgrims of South East Asia starting from the 1423H Hajj season. Due to the need to achieve a deeper understanding of this system, a project was initiated to analyze the system's details and build a simulation model for it according to the inputs of the 1424H Hajj season. A simulation model was designed using queuing theory concepts, and the model was implemented using the Arena simulation tool. The model was then verified and validated based on the available performance field data and statistics from the 1424H Hajj season. Several experiments were designed and executed on the simulation model with the aim to determine the achievable performance limits given the space, time, and economic constraints within which the system operates. In this paper, a complete description of the modeling and simulation project of the 1424H Hajj season shuttle-trip system for the pilgrims of south east Asia is given. It includes a summary of the system characteristics, inputs and assumptions. Model verification and validation tests and the simulation experiments and results are also presented. Finally, conclusions are drawn to support operational and strategic decision making in this system. |
