Aerial Solutions for Supporting Large-Scale Events: A Case Study of the Hajj Pilgrimage

Large-scale events such as the Hajj attract two to three million participants annually, creating significant challenges in mobility, security, and connectivity. Existing solutions may be limited and prone to overload. This article proposes the use of aerial solutions, specifically networked tethered flying Platforms (NTFPs), to address these issues. NTFPs, which remain tethered to the ground for continuous power and data access, offer advantages such as high-altitude deployment, wide coverage, and robust backhaul capacity. By integrating NTFPs into the event infrastructure, this approach aims to enhance the overall experience and efficiency of the Hajj.