Getting Started
Pick the way of running CrowdCAD that fits your team. You can try it in your browser right now, or set up your own copy that your whole team shares. The setup guides assume no programming or terminal experience.
Just want to try it?
CrowdCAD Lite runs in your browser with nothing to install. Everything you enter stays on that one device, so it suits training, evaluation and small events run from a single laptop. Read more on the Lite Mode page.
Setting up CrowdCAD for your team
To have dispatchers, supervisors and field teams share one live system, set up your own copy. There are two ways to store its data. Both give you the same CrowdCAD features, and both guides take you step by step on a Mac or Windows PC.
PocketBase
Everything on one computer at your venue
- Data stays on your computer and never goes to a cloud service.
- Works during an event with no internet, as long as every device shares the same network.
- No cloud account or bill.
- You are responsible for backups and for keeping the computer running.
You'll need: A Mac or Windows PC, about 10 GB of free space and 45 to 90 minutes.
Open the PocketBase guideFirebase
Data stored in Google's cloud
- Accounts and data live in your own Firebase project, managed and backed up by Google.
- Needs internet whenever CrowdCAD is in use.
- Offers a signed Google BAA for organizations handling protected health information.
- Free for typical teams. Uploading venue map images needs the pay-as-you-go Blaze plan.
You'll need: A Mac or Windows PC, a Google account and 45 to 75 minutes.
Open the Firebase guideStill deciding?
- Will your venue have reliable internet during events? If not, choose PocketBase.
- Must patient information stay on-site? Choose PocketBase.
- Does your organization require a Business Associate Agreement for PHI? Choose Firebase and sign Google's BAA before entering real data.
- Would you rather not look after a computer and its backups? Choose Firebase.
Lite Mode compared with your own setup
Both options cover the core CrowdCAD workflow. Lite Mode lowers the barrier to getting started, while self-hosted deployments add shared operations, customization and organization-managed administration.
Lite Mode
Lite Mode gives teams access to the core CrowdCAD workflow with a faster start and lower technical overhead.
- Available on crowdcad.org: Yes
- Requires your own deployment: No
- Core dispatch workflow: Included
- CrowdCAD server-side storage: Not used for Lite sessions
- Shared events: Not included
- Multiple dispatchers: Not included
- Venue maps: Not included
- Custom venues: Not included
- Interface customization: Not included
- Administrative control: Limited
- Best fit: Teams that want a faster starting point with lower setup overhead, or that want to try out the workflow before managing their own deployment
- Technical overhead: Lower
Self-Hosted
Self-hosting includes the full CrowdCAD workflow with support for shared operations, advanced configuration and organization-managed administration.
- Available on crowdcad.org: No
- Requires your own deployment: Yes
- Core dispatch workflow: Included
- CrowdCAD server-side storage: Organization-managed
- Shared events: Included
- Multiple dispatchers: Included
- Venue maps: Included
- Custom venues: Included
- Interface customization: Included
- Administrative control: Organization-managed
- Best fit: Teams that need shared operations, deeper customization and centralized administration
- Technical overhead: Higher
Before using real patient data
- Read the privacy guidance and confirm your team's retention, access and governance requirements.
- Review the responsibilities on the self-hosting page.
- Check the FAQ for common adoption questions.