Trials in using artificial intelligence (AI) to identify species of trees and other plants, from photographs taken by on-train cameras, have shown that lineside vegetation can be monitored safely, cheaply, quickly and at scale.

Monitoring flora and fauna by railway tracks in order to support better management of lineside habitats is extremely difficult due to safety concerns, the size of Britains 20,000-mile rail network and the number of expert surveyors required.
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