Grain Journal Features the NDGI Webcam at Alton facility.

The Grain Journal, a bi-monthly publication concentrating on grain-handling, storage, and merchandising information for elevator managers and grain operations personnel, featured the webcams located at the NDGI Alton facility in its March/April 2002 edition.

The article has been reprinted on our site with the permission of the Grain Journal.

Web Cams

An FGIS-licensed official inspection agency has come up with a unique way to view truck and rail activity at a customer's elevator. North Dakota Grain Inspection Service (NDGIS), Fargo, ND (701-293-7420), has installed two video cameras-one facing north, one facing south-at Alton Grain Terminal LLC's new train-loading facility in Hillsboro, ND.

The cameras record both truck and rail activity at the terminal, then transmit their pictures directly to the NDGIS Web site, www.graininspection.com/alton.asp.

"We use it to see if traffic is moving properly," says Steve Adams, NDGIS president. "At harvest, farmers or elevators can log on to see if there's a long line."

S&L Computers, a local Internet service provider, installed the cameras to run on a six-picture loop and take a new picture every two minutes. They can be adjusted to take more pictures or upload pictures more frequently.

"We also use it when we load trains out," says Adams. "The south camera shows the facility, and we can tell how fast they're loading."

The idea has been such a success, says Adams. The Arthur Companies has asked NDGIS to install a camera at its Ayr, ND, location.

Joli A. Shaw
Associate Editor
Grain Journal
3065 Pershing Ct.
Decatur, IL 62526
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Fax: 217-877-6647
Website: www.grainnet.com

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