CrowdCAD

CrowdCAD is an open-source dispatch system focused on standby medical operations at events. It is most suitable for volunteer and collegiate EMS groups that need a shared incident picture, particularly when they can run their own infrastructure. The core workflow costs nothing, but the operational features that support larger teams come with hosting and administration work.

Overview

CrowdCAD keeps event incidents, assignments, status changes, team positions, and clinic capacity in one operations view. That concentration is useful for medical coverage at festivals, campuses, and similar venues, rather than for broad commercial field-service work. Its responsive web design allows a supervisor to check and update dispatch information from a phone, although there is no native mobile application.

The project was created within the Berkeley Medical Reserve Corps for volunteer and collegiate EMS event operations. It is released under the GNU Affero General Public License v3.0, making it a plausible foundation for organizations that want to manage and adapt their own deployment.

Key features

Incident dispatch and dashboard

Teams can open incidents, assign personnel, and follow status updates as situations develop. The dashboard combines active incidents with team locations and statuses and the capacity of clinics, giving dispatchers a practical operational snapshot instead of separate lists. There is no GPS vehicle tracking, two-way messaging, or customer notification facility, so teams that require those channels must provide them elsewhere.

Recurring venue preparation

Saved venue templates can be loaded for repeat events, cutting down setup between operations. Lite Mode excludes venue maps and custom venues, while self-hosted installations add both. That distinction matters when dispatchers need a visual, venue-specific layout rather than a basic incident workflow.

Mobile and integration

The mobile-friendly browser interface is helpful for field supervisors who need live updates without returning to a desk. CrowdCAD has no dedicated Android or iOS app. API access is available for integrations, and recurring jobs are supported, but the product does not include built-in customer alerts or messaging.

Pricing

Both listed plans are free, with the trade-off defined by how much administration and coordination an organization accepts.

Lite Mode is the sensible starting point for a small team running a straightforward event operation with one dispatch context. It is a poor fit for coordinated, multi-dispatcher coverage or map-led venue work. Self-hosting unlocks the features that make CrowdCAD suitable for larger operations, but the zero software price does not remove infrastructure or governance costs. Lite Mode does not use CrowdCAD server-side storage; self-hosted organizations control their own storage.

The deployment guide supports Firebase and PocketBase backends, including PocketBase on local or LAN infrastructure. The hosting organization must handle authentication, access controls, backups, retention, monitoring, patching, and incident response. PocketBase self-hosting alone is not a signed HIPAA business associate agreement, so organizations with HIPAA obligations need a separate compliance arrangement.

Platforms

CrowdCAD runs as a self-hosted web application. Its responsive interface covers mobile browser use, but no dedicated mobile apps are supplied. Firebase and PocketBase are supported backend choices, with PocketBase usable on local or LAN infrastructure.

Who it's for

Choose CrowdCAD when a volunteer or collegiate EMS organization needs event-specific dispatch, repeatable venue setup, and a view of incidents, teams, and clinic capacity without a software subscription. Self-hosting is particularly appropriate for groups with people who can maintain authentication, backups, updates, and access policy. Teams wanting a managed service, native apps, vehicle telemetry, or built-in messaging should look elsewhere.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Purpose-built event workflow: Incident assignment and status tracking match standby medical operations rather than forcing a generic field-service model.
• Useful shared operational view: Team status, locations, active incidents, and clinic capacity appear together for dispatch decisions.
• Reusable venue setup: Templates reduce preparation for recurring events, with maps and custom venues available when self-hosted.
• No license fee: Both Lite Mode and Self-Hosted are listed as free.

Cons

• Lite Mode is tightly constrained: No shared events, multiple dispatchers, maps, custom venues, or interface customization limits it to simpler operations.
• Self-hosting is operationally demanding: Your organization owns security, backups, retention, monitoring, patching, and response procedures.
• Browser-only mobile access: Responsive pages help supervisors, but there are no dedicated mobile apps.
• Missing communications and telemetry: No GPS vehicle tracking, two-way messaging, or customer notifications are included.

Alternatives

Resgrid is the better choice when you need Android, iOS, desktop, API, or web options, with a free plan for up to 10 entities and push and email notifications (but no SMS).

ServiceM8 suits a single-user operation wanting a free monthly tier capped at 30 jobs, with SMS charged at 10 cents and limited daily AI use.

OfficialTMS fits teams seeking a free web portal with a rolling one-year backup and 24/7 support, or a $17 a month mobile-app plan.

Roldesk is preferable for work-order dispatch with one office and one mobile seat, scheduling, and offline technician records.

Dispatchable is an alternative with a free-for-life Starter plan and web/API access.

FieldAware is a paid field-service option with Android, iOS, web, and API support.

ServicePower offers freemium workforce tools including scheduling, mobile access, customer self-service, work orders, analytics, and Vision AI.

BigChange is a paid platform with support, CRM, scheduling, mobile access, live tracking, quotes, invoices, business intelligence, and collaboration.

Verdict

CrowdCAD is a strong fit for volunteer or collegiate event-medical teams that want focused dispatch at no license cost and can administer a deployment. Its central dashboard and self-hosted venue tools are the main reasons to choose it. Look elsewhere if your operation needs managed hosting, native mobile apps, vehicle tracking, two-way communications, or less responsibility for security and maintenance.