A Hybrid Framework for Flexible Waste Management During Crowded Events

Waste management in smart cities is a critical application. However, in areas that witness large gatherings (such as religious seasons, festivals, and events), it poses a significant challenge. In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mecca receives millions of pilgrims annually. Dealing with the waste generated by these massive crowds requires smart and sustainable solutions to ensure the cleanliness of public spaces and minimize the environmental impact. This research proposes a hybrid framework for crowd waste management based on the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence models, and smart services. We also propose a prototype smart container that provides real-time monitoring of containers on a cleanliness management map. Furthermore, the system proposes a location-based service and a lightweight automated classification algorithm to enable crowds to enhance monitoring and support crowdsourcing. The proposed framework, smart container, crowd service, and smart dashboard recommendation model will enable waste management stakeholders to develop effective plans to manage waste collection and transportation operations, while preventing accumulation and visual disturbances while minimizing congestion. In the next phase, we will work on implementing the proposed solution in collaboration with the Madinah Municipality.