Two Holy Mosques Authority Launches Smart Engineering Command and Control Center

CEO of the General Authority for the Care of the Affairs of the Grand Mosque and the Prophet's Mosque Eng. Ghazi Al-Shahrani on Tuesday launched the pilot phase of the Smart Engineering Command and Control Center.

 The step aligns with the authority’s broader objective to enhance the efficiency of asset, facility, and service management within the Two Holy Mosques, and to establish the center as a key technical pillar supporting operational decision-making and improving the quality and efficiency of services provided to pilgrims around the clock.

 The newly launched center was designed as a reliable and unified source for leading and operating smart infrastructure systems at the Grand Mosque and the Prophet’s Mosque. Its systems include electricity, water, air conditioning, elevators, lighting, waste management, and more.

 It operates through seamless integration of advanced technologies and real-time data, enabling sophisticated operational services that significantly enhance pilgrims’ experience by ensuring rapid response, elevated readiness, proactive operations, and scenario planning supported by heat maps for service optimization.

 The authority aims to use the new center to achieve intelligent, real-time data analysis through artificial intelligence and big-data technologies, supporting immediate and proactive decision-making, which contributes to enhanced monitoring of operational services and systems, improved performance indicators, and early detection of potential issues.

 The center incorporates SCADA systems for infrastructure monitoring and control, building management systems (BMS), and thermal maps to guide operational services toward priority areas by tracking real-time visitor density.

 A digital twin model was adopted, simulating facilities of the Two Holy Mosques to optimize control, operation, and predictive maintenance. The center also integrates Decision Support Systems (DSS) for predictive decision-making and real-time operational recommendations, bolstering proactive response and field resilience.

 Internet of things (IoT) technology enables real-time sensor data analysis, while the automated early warning system (AEWS) automatically alerts relevant authorities in the event of potential malfunctions or hazards. High-performance communication networks, including 5G and LoRaWAN, support the reliable and efficient transmission of data, displayed on centralized interactive dashboards that unify system data into a single interface to improve coordination among operational teams. Access control systems based on biometrics and smart cards regulate entry to sensitive areas.

 The center also provides real-time monitoring of visitor numbers in both mosques through smart thermal and analytical systems, empowering operational, engineering, and technical teams to optimize service distribution and adapt effectively to field conditions.

 As a pivotal component of the broader digital transformation within the Two Holy Mosques, the center establishes innovative operational models that harness technology to convert big data into precise decisions, ultimately ensuring a safe, seamless, and high-quality experience for pilgrims and worshippers, and upholding the highest standards of care and service.