MINA — The heat-blocking coating of some roads and pedestrian paths at the Holy Sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah produced soothing effect on pilgrims under scorching sun. These paths give some respite to the pilgrims while they walk on foot, heading for their camps in the tent city of Mina on the first day of the annual pilgrimage of Hajj that coincides with the extreme summer season. The coating technology has been instrumental in bringing down the road temperature so as to provide a cool atmosphere for the pilgrims. The technology aims to provide complete comfort for the pilgrims by increasing the level of cooling of the climate around them. The white coating contributes to reducing the surface temperature by about 30 degrees Celsius, using several locally made materials that have the ability to absorb a smaller amount of solar radiation. Abdulaziz Al-Otaibi, media in charge of the General Authority for Roads (GAR), said that the road cooling mechanism is carried out scientifically by reflecting sunlight and reducing temperatures during the day and night, the Saudi Press Agency reported. "The application of the technology of reducing temperature of asphalt surfaces, by reflecting the sun's rays, comes in partnership with a number of agencies in order to serve pilgrims, with the aim of contributing to reducing temperatures on the pedestrian roads at the Holy Sites," he said. Al-Otaibi pointed out that the road cooling mechanism is carried out scientifically by reflecting sunlight and reducing temperatures during day and night. "The products used would create more comfortable and easier environments in pedestrian places, in a way imparting healthy environment and a better quality of life," he said. The GAR, in cooperation with the Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing, and a number of relevant authorities, have implemented this experiment on major pedestrian paths at Holy Sites, including the Jamarat stoning area. This project was implemented on the basis of a research study experiment on cooling asphalt surfaces at the Holy Sites. It is noteworthy that the Makkah Mayoralty had implemented in 2019 a cool project by using coating asphalt as a way to reduce heat at the Holy Sites. The project included the coating of the pedestrian road leading to the Jamarat complex. The coating was done over a total area of approximately 3,500 square meters to help reduce the road temperature and to serve the pilgrims. The project aimed to provide temperature reduction from 15 to 20 degrees Celsius, where temperatures will be recorded every 10 seconds during the season through sensors placed under the asphalt.
