Czech Rail Authority Uses Aerial Imaging to Prevent Tree Falls on Tracks

Increasing summer storms in the Czech Republic have raised the risk of trees falling onto roads and railway lines. Infrastructure managers are now required to locate and assess hazardous trees and, when necessary, prune or remove them. The number of reported tree falls on railway tracks grew to 896 in 2024, up from an average of 800 in previous years, while the road network saw only one to two incidents annually.

Modern technologies are assisting these efforts. Aerial and multispectral imaging, combined with infrared data, allow operators to detect trees that are structurally weakened even when they appear healthy. Indicators of poor condition include fungal fruiting bodies, insect damage, cavities, cracks, and excessive sap flow. The Czech Rail Infrastructure Administration (Správa železnic) and the Road and Highway Administration (Ředitelství silnic a dálnic) are applying these tools to improve preventative maintenance and reduce service disruptions.