“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” While the answer to that age-old question remains uncertain, there is one thing we can all agree on: if a tree falls on a power line, it certainly makes an impact.

So how can owners proactively prevent vegetation from disrupting widespread access to electricity, public transportation, and more? By deploying advanced digital technology solutions to monitor forest growth and implementing mitigation techniques that balance both the environmental and economic ledgers.

“We work with public utilities and agencies nationwide to help monitor vegetation near power lines and transportation corridors, providing an efficient way to stay informed on changes without having to physically visit each site and manually record findings,” said Tony Yates, GISP, Senior GIS Manager, Langan. “By keeping a digital record of the vegetation present across sites, our clients can leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning to proactively analyze trends, calculate encroachments, and better prepare for budgeting and maintenance.”

Langan’s 95+-person technology team comprises a one-stop shop for digital solutions related to vegetation detection, from aerial imagery, drone technology, and LiDAR data collection to artificial intelligence and remote monitoring trained to identify potential impacts. By investing in these technology solutions, clients can maintain vegetation, save the time and money associated with manual detection, and align nature and the built environment long before issues begin to take root.