A REVOLUTIONARY pollution alert system developed in the Territory seems to have got some companies and government agencies running scared.

SRA's EnviroSys software has been snapped up for several major jobs, including dust monitoring at Port Hedland during the loading of iron ore. It was also used during the dredging of Port Phillip Bay at Melbourne.

EnviroSys is employed at the Groote Eylandt manganese mine, Nhulunbuy's Alcan bauxite operation, in South Africa and the US.

But Energy Resources of Australia has shown little interest in using the system for its Ranger uranium mine near Jabiru. And the Darwin Port Corporation has also shunned the technology for East Arm Wharf, despite major dust problems during the loading of copper concentrate.

SRA chief operating officer Shane Smith said: "Some people don't want to know the information that it gives out."

EnviroSys can monitor everything from dust to water quality.

It has just been established at Port Hedland to monitor the export of 70 million tonnes of iron a year. Dust monitors have been installed throughout the port. They signal SRA computer software when dust reaches a certain level.

The computer then automatically sends out an alert - email and text messages to work supervisors.

It also turns on dust-suppressant sprays if needed.