fellow at the university. he points to the san bruno gas pipeline explosion in 2010 as an example of problems that occurred when different first responders got on scene. >> all the different fire departments and police come from different cities, so they can't share data. they can share voice sometimes. can't share maps, videos, photographs, status information, things like that. reporter: that's part of what the workshop is about. making sure first responders are on the same page. the work is how best to use open source technology in a disaster event. they're developing the use of simple available technology that people can use that would supplement the work of first responders. like a wi-fi connection like this, solar-powered and contributed to schools and neighborhood response centers. >> we're developing low-cost affordable technology to use to connect people in a social media, even if the cell towers and the internet are down. >> a disaster wi-fi in