A detection system comprising: a target object having a target object coordinate system; a tracking unit configured to monitor at least one of a position and an orientation of said target object and generate a target object position signal indicative of said at least one of said position and said orientation of said target object; a local positioning system instrument (17, 202, 204) comprising: a camera positioned to capture an image of said target object; a laser emitting device configured as a laser range meter and positioned to project a laser beam onto said target object, wherein the laser emitting device is configured to determine an initial position of said local positioning system instrument (17, 202, 204) relative to said target object; and an orienting mechanism connected to said camera to control an orientation of said camera relative to said target object; and a processor configured to analyze said image to detect a discrepancy in said image by comparing said image to a reference image stored in a memory, and, when said discrepancy is present in said image, determine a location of said discrepancy relative to said target object coordinate system based at least upon said target object position signal and said orientation of said camera, wherein the discrepancy is defined by one or more points of interest on the target object, and wherein the processor is configured to store in said memory said location of said discrepancy as coordinate data. a target object having a target object coordinate system; a tracking unit configured to monitor at least one of a position and an orientation of said target object and generate a target object position signal indicative of said at least one of said position and said orientation of said target object; a local positioning system instrument (17, 202, 204) comprising: a camera positioned to capture an image of said target object; a laser emitting device configured as a laser range meter and positioned to project a laser beam onto said target object, wherein the laser emitting device is configured to determine an initial position of said local positioning system instrument (17, 202, 204) relative to said target object; and an orienting mechanism connected to said camera to control an orientation of said camera relative to said target object; and a local positioning system instrument (17, 202, 204) comprising: a camera positioned to capture an image of said target object; a laser emitting device configured as a laser range meter and positioned to project a laser beam onto said target object, wherein the laser emitting device is configured to determine an initial position of said local positioning system instrument (17, 202, 204) relative to said target object; and an orienting mechanism connected to said camera to control an orientation of said camera relative to said target object; and a processor configured to analyze said image to detect a discrepancy in said image by comparing said image to a reference image stored in a memory, and, when said discrepancy is present in said image, determine a location of said discrepancy relative to said target object coordinate system based at least upon said target object position signal and said orientation of said camera, wherein the discrepancy is defined by one or more points of interest on the target object, and wherein the processor is configured to store in said memory said location of said discrepancy as coordinate data.