JEDDAH: The technical committee of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques's Grand Mosque Expansion Project is putting the finishing touches to its “smart barriers” project, just 10 days after the removal of the temporary mataf bridge.
Wael Al-Halabi, supervisor of the two projects and a member of the technical committee, told a local publication that the committee is currently finalizing the last sketches for the innovative new project.
“The smart barriers will be used inside the Grand Mosque and its courtyards to manage the movement of pilgrims and worshipers,” said Al-Halabi. He said the smart barriers model can be used in various locations in addition to the Grand Mosque, such as other holy sites, celebration sites and places witnessing large gatherings.
He said that the main idea of the project involves using suction cups to install such barriers anywhere at random or in line with official plans. “The smart barriers are different from any other barriers in terms of the materials used for manufacturing them, meaning that they can handle large pressures, while still being made of a soft substance so that it will not hurt the pilgrims, unlike traditional barriers,” he added. He said that the work of the committee is being implemented by 200 engineers specialized in safety skills, of which the ratio of Saudis is 95 percent. “The temporary mataf bridge was removed 20 days ahead of schedule due to weather fluctuations with strong winds and rain,” he added.
He added that work is being undertaken currently to restore the historical path to the dish of the mataf, which now can accommodate 30,000 people, while the total capacity of the mataf once the expansion works are finished will be 907,000 worshipers on all floors, the dish and the roof.
Wael Al-Halabi, supervisor of the two projects and a member of the technical committee, told a local publication that the committee is currently finalizing the last sketches for the innovative new project.
“The smart barriers will be used inside the Grand Mosque and its courtyards to manage the movement of pilgrims and worshipers,” said Al-Halabi. He said the smart barriers model can be used in various locations in addition to the Grand Mosque, such as other holy sites, celebration sites and places witnessing large gatherings.
He said that the main idea of the project involves using suction cups to install such barriers anywhere at random or in line with official plans. “The smart barriers are different from any other barriers in terms of the materials used for manufacturing them, meaning that they can handle large pressures, while still being made of a soft substance so that it will not hurt the pilgrims, unlike traditional barriers,” he added. He said that the work of the committee is being implemented by 200 engineers specialized in safety skills, of which the ratio of Saudis is 95 percent. “The temporary mataf bridge was removed 20 days ahead of schedule due to weather fluctuations with strong winds and rain,” he added.
He added that work is being undertaken currently to restore the historical path to the dish of the mataf, which now can accommodate 30,000 people, while the total capacity of the mataf once the expansion works are finished will be 907,000 worshipers on all floors, the dish and the roof.
