A system for acquiring surface data from one of the surfaces of a generally rectangular, curved panel having a specular surface of interest with a first dimension and a second dimension, wherein the panel is curved at least about one or more axes of curvature which are generally parallel to the first dimension, and developing a surface definition of the panel, the system comprising: a conveyor for conveying the panel in a first direction generally parallel to the first dimension of the panel; at least two displays, each display projecting a preselected contrasting pattern, at least two cameras (28-40; 82); and a programmable control including at least one processor programmed to execute logic for controlling each of the cameras (28-40; 82) to acquire at least one image of the reflected pattern of the associated display on the panel as the panel is conveyed across the path of the projected pattern in the first direction, and logic for analyzing and combining the data acquired by the cameras (28-40; 82) to construct surface data representative of a three-dimensional shape of the surface of the panel; characterized in that each one of the at least two cameras (28-40; 82) are uniquely paired with one of the displays, wherein each display and camera pair are mounted in a spaced-apart relationship a known distance and angle from the surface of the panel such that the camera detects the reflected image of the pattern projected on the surface of the panel from its associated display, and wherein each of the display and camera pairs are spaced apart from each other at least in a second direction across the second dimension of the panel such that each camera detects the reflected image of the pattern projected on the surface of the panel from only its associated display, and wherein the patterns detected by the plurality of cameras (28-40; 82) together cover the entire surface in the direction of the second dimension of the panel. a conveyor for conveying the panel in a first direction generally parallel to the first dimension of the panel; at least two displays, each display projecting a preselected contrasting pattern, at least two cameras (28-40; 82); and at least two displays, each display projecting a preselected contrasting pattern, at least two cameras (28-40; 82); and a programmable control including at least one processor programmed to execute logic for controlling each of the cameras (28-40; 82) to acquire at least one image of the reflected pattern of the associated display on the panel as the panel is conveyed across the path of the projected pattern in the first direction, and logic for analyzing and combining the data acquired by the cameras (28-40; 82) to construct surface data representative of a three-dimensional shape of the surface of the panel; characterized in that each one of the at least two cameras (28-40; 82) are uniquely paired with one of the displays, wherein each display and camera pair are mounted in a spaced-apart relationship a known distance and angle from the surface of the panel such that the camera detects the reflected image of the pattern projected on the surface of the panel from its associated display, and wherein each of the display and camera pairs are spaced apart from each other at least in a second direction across the second dimension of the panel such that each camera detects the reflected image of the pattern projected on the surface of the panel from only its associated display, and wherein the patterns detected by the plurality of cameras (28-40; 82) together cover the entire surface in the direction of the second dimension of the panel.