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8/14/2025
BNSF Railway Co., in conjunction with outside vendors, has developed predictive vegetation management (PVM) technology. PVM, which includes the use of artificial intelligence, is designed to accurately predict where and when vegetation growth will occur so that crews can be directed to grade crossings that need attention.
BNSF has been working to assess vegetation using lidar technology since 2023. The Class I combined the lidar-generated data with data taken from soil and previous weather patterns to more confidently forecast vegetation growth and optimize crew scheduling, according to an online BNSF "Rail Talk" article written by Sam Haswell.
The Class I has more than 15,000 crossings across its 32,500-mile network that field crews inspect to confirm they meet state and federal standards. Those inspections include making sure vegetation is trimmed to allow full visibility for train crews and the public.
The new PVM technology enables the crews to be more effective in the identification and abatement of vegetation encroachment, Steve Thompson, BNSF's general director of maintenance support, said in the article.
“It will allow us to increase efficiency and allocate our budget to go farther,” he said.