1. A system comprising: a camera configured to be logically or mechanically coupled with a vehicle that travels along a route, the camera also configured to sense radiation emitted or reflected from the route; and one or more processors configured to generate a sensed signature representative of the radiation that is sensed by the camera, the one or more processors configured to determine a condition of the route at least in part by comparing the sensed signature with a stored signature representative of radiation emitted or reflected from a segment of the route that is not damaged.