مجلة الاربعين المحكمة
The Arbaeen pilgrimage in Karbala is one of the largest religious gatherings in the world, generating complex environmental challenges—most notably in urban waste management due to extreme crowd density and limited infrastructure. The problem addressed in this study lies in the inadequate adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in managing crowd-generated waste during the pilgrimage, which hampers the realization of a sustainable urban system responsive to mass events. The research hypothesizes that the integration of AI tools can significantly enhance the efficiency, responsiveness, and environmental sustainability of waste management systems during mass religious occasions. The significance of this study stems from its contribution to proposing an AI-based smart waste management framework, tailored to the specific context of Karbala, and capable of addressing the challenges of both scale and religious spatial sensitivity. To achieve this, the study employed a mixed-methods approach combining analytical review, comparative case analysis, and a field survey conducted in eight neighborhoods within the historical center of Karbala during the 1445 AH Arbaeen season. Data were collected through structured observations, municipal records, and semi-structured interviews with local service providers. Temporal and spatial boundaries: Data were collected from field observations, municipal records, and interviews with local service personnel. The sample included municipal employees, representatives of the shrines, and workers in the Husseini service processions within the historic center of Karbala. The time period extended from Muharram to the end of Safar 1445 AH, with a special focus on the peak days of the Arbaeen pilgrimage