IoT And Mobile Apps for Pandemic Risk Management during Hajj: Design Science Research (Preprint)

Abstract

Hajj pilgrims are often affected by the risks of the rapid spread of communicable diseases. Such risks have emerged intensively more than ever before the recent COVID-19 pandemic. The previous study has recommended Hajj surveillance data management systems for efficient control of health risks. As a preventive measure, however, no previous studies have followed Design Science Research Methodology (DSRM) to develop any framework for ultimately developing any interactive technological intervention for pandemic risk management, especially in the context of Hajj.

The objective of this study was to use a DSRM for developing a framework that would guide the researchers and policymakers in using IoT and mobile apps in combination for pandemic risk management during Hajj.

This study followed the DSRM consisting of three cycles (namely, Relevance Cycle, Design Cycle, and Rigor Cycle). The design science-based framework allows to development of a technological solution (e.g., mobile app) for a problem through a series of actions using expertise and iteration. It takes into account the factors of people, system configurations, technologies, and work environment that interplay together.

Upon following the DSRM, a conceptual framework has been developed for pandemic risk management during Hajj. The framework would guide the researchers in developing features like 1) path guidance system, 2) advising system, 3) alert system, 4) assistance delivery system, and 5) bigdata and situation analysis system for pandemic risk management at the event of Hajj. Also, in the development process of the conceptual framework, the findings in rigor cycle show that perceived health benefit influences the users in adopting wearable and mobile app use (beta = 0.722, t = 15.98, p=0.000) the most followed by facilitating condition (beta = 0.853, t = 20.29, p=0.000) and social influence (beta = 0.53, t = 8.58, p=0.000) respectively.

The design science-based framework will also help the Saudi Arabian government to modernize the country’s current capacity to ensure effective management of pandemic risk services through developing additional modern surveillance techniques and strategies. Furthermore, the development of IoT and mobile app-based interactive systems using this framework will also contribute to big data-based predictive analysis because of the integration of IoT systems which will generate a large amount of useful data.