Developing a Web-Based Geographic Information System of Housing in Madinah.

Document Type : Research Studies

Author

Head of Department of Urban and Engineering Researches The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Institute for Hajj Research, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Every year, more than one million visitors come to Madinah, Saudi Arabia. Searching and selecting adequate accommodation for visitors requires detailed and comprehensive information about the various accommodation options. This paper demonstrates the development of a web-based Geographic Information System (GIS) for different hotels available in the central area of Madinah. Such system will help visitors to choose hotels according to their needs and preferences from their countries via the internet. The system provides a comprehensive database about hotels including maps, attribute data, and photos. The system can be used by local authorities managing and supervising the process of accommodating visitors. In addition, the system supports researchers and decision makers in the area of urban planning and housing to make better decisions to provide adequate housing conditions for the visitors of Madinah. 

Main Subjects