Maintenance-of-way system and method

A method, comprising:

• determining a parameter associated with an operating vicinity of a vehicle;
• distinguishing a targeted feature from a non-targeted feature based, at least in part, on the parameter;
• adjusting an emitter to selectively focus the emitter with respect to the targeted feature;
• and
• activating the emitter to direct an emission exclusively and only toward the targeted feature and not toward a non-targeted feature within the operating vicinity.

A system, comprising a control circuit configured to:

• determine a parameter associated with an operating vicinity of the system;
• use machine vision to detect a targeted feature based, at least in part, on the parameter;
• activate a coupler to selectively aim an emitter at the targeted feature;
• and
• activate the emitter to emit an emission toward the targeted feature while sparing non-targeted features within the operating vicinity.