Coordinate people, communications and resources in one view
C-O-R-D is a K5NWZ operations dashboard designed to organize radio teams, routes, equipment and changing field conditions. This page introduces the project and shows how one shared picture can support events, public service and emergency communications.
C-O-R-D — Common Operational Resource Dashboard
C-O-R-D is a K5NWZ project under active development: a general-purpose operational coordination platform for amateur-radio-supported races, endurance events, marathons, bicycle events, air shows, fairs, festivals, parades, public-service events, ARES and emergency communications deployments, severe-weather operations, shelters, fixed communications posts, mobile teams, SAG vehicles, aid stations, traffic-control locations, personnel, equipment, and other operational assets.
C-O-R-D is under active development
The original APRS tracker was a proof of concept. C-O-R-D is its broader replacement, with expanded event and asset management, dispatcher tools, APRS position reporting, Meshtastic integration, and support for additional communications and location systems. Much of the current work is behind the scenes: communications architecture, location reporting, data handling, configuration, and operator workflows.
That means the public dashboard may not change every day, but development is continuing. The objective is simple to operate, powerful underneath, highly configurable, and reliable in the field. Use Pop Out Dispatcher or Full Screen to enlarge the workspace, and select Hide Assets when you want more room to focus on the map. Join the conversation in #public-events on Discord.
C-O-R-D Event Operations Portal
For participating organizations, the secured C-O-R-D Event Operations portal provides authorized access to event tools, dispatcher workflows, and asset information. Select your organization there, then sign in with your account.
OPEN SECURED C-O-R-D OPERATIONS PORTAL ↗Built for real-world operations
The goal is not simply another tracking map or a single-purpose race dashboard. C-O-R-D is being built as a robust, flexible event-operations platform that remains simple for operators while supporting many different types and sizes of events.
The system is designed for races and marathons, but also for public-service events, fairs, festivals, parades, emergency-support operations, amateur-radio-supported events, and situations involving both fixed locations and mobile teams. It can organize checkpoints, aid stations, command posts, traffic-control locations, SAG and support vehicles, personnel, equipment, and other event assets.
Communications and location integrations
C-O-R-D is intentionally not locked to one radio network, communications method, event type, or organization. Depending on the event, it may integrate:
- APRS position and asset reporting
- Meshtastic GPS tracking and mesh networking
- MeshCore GPS tracking and mesh networking
- EchoLink and AllStar integration
- Potential DMR integration
- GPS and other location data
- Manual dispatcher and operator input
- Multiple simultaneous users, operators, and separately configured events
CONNECTED FIELD TESTING
The off-grid Meshtastic test feeds the same operational idea
The independent Meshtastic tracking network being tested for overlanders, hikers and explorers is closely related to C-O-R-D. Both projects turn radio position reports into a shared operational picture: participating assets appear on a map, frequent updates show movement, and breadcrumb history preserves the last received route when a node stops reporting.
The field mesh can operate without cellular service, Starlink or the Internet. Optional connectivity can bridge information outward, but the local nodes continue relaying messages and GPS positions among themselves. This makes the test useful both for remote recreation and for learning how C-O-R-D could receive and organize location data during real field operations.
Participants with an extra Meshtastic node are welcome. Mobile trackers, vehicle-mounted radios and portable nodes are especially valuable because they provide routes and changing signal data from many locations. For position tracking, each participating node must have onboard GPS or receive position data from a paired cell phone. Stationary spare nodes can also help test coverage and relaying when their location is known.
This is a part-time passion project. It is one of my highest-priority personal projects, but I also have a full-time job and several other interests that require my time. Testing will happen in planned sessions and phases rather than continuously. I will coordinate active test windows with participants, and patience between those periods will be appreciated.