A system for evaluating a status of a material, comprising: a. an electromagnetic wave launcher having a first feeding end and a second launching end, wherein said first feeding end includes a feeding mechanism to excite an electromagnetic wave able to propagate through said electromagnetic wave launcher, wherein said second launching end is physically structured according to an element selected from a group of a configuration having edges physically conformed to extend away from an said area to be evaluated of a near surface of said material wherein said edges have a smooth rolled-edge configuration and a configuration having at least two side plates with a variable conductivity material to reduce a plurality of reflections and ringing of said electromagnetic wave propagating through said launching end, by a sufficient extent so as to enable detection of an electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from a remote discontinuity of said material, wherein said electromagnetic wave launcher is provided a physical configuration to have an impedance at said second launching end that substantially matches an impedance of said near surface of said material, wherein a physical length from said first feeding end to said second launching end is selected such that a propagation time of said electromagnetic wave propagating from said first feeding end to said second launching end is larger than a propagation time of said electromagnetic wave propagating from said near surface of said material to a remote inner surface of said material, wherein said electromagnetic wave launcher is adapted to delay receipt of said electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from said remote discontinuity of said material by a time period sufficient to distinguish between said reflected electromagnetic wave of interest and reflected spurious signals from said near surface of said material, and wherein said launching end is adapted to be conformal to an area of said near surface of said material; and b. a computer-based processor having an executable computer code configured to: measure said reflected electromagnetic wave of interest to produce frequency domain data; transform said frequency domain data to time domain data; calibrate said time domain data to distance domain data; identify a peak in said distance domain profile associated with said electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from said material; and determine a distance traveled by said electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from said material. a. an electromagnetic wave launcher having a first feeding end and a second launching end, wherein said first feeding end includes a feeding mechanism to excite an electromagnetic wave able to propagate through said electromagnetic wave launcher, wherein said second launching end is physically structured according to an element selected from a group of a configuration having edges physically conformed to extend away from an said area to be evaluated of a near surface of said material wherein said edges have a smooth rolled-edge configuration and a configuration having at least two side plates with a variable conductivity material to reduce a plurality of reflections and ringing of said electromagnetic wave propagating through said launching end, by a sufficient extent so as to enable detection of an electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from a remote discontinuity of said material, wherein said electromagnetic wave launcher is provided a physical configuration to have an impedance at said second launching end that substantially matches an impedance of said near surface of said material, wherein a physical length from said first feeding end to said second launching end is selected such that a propagation time of said electromagnetic wave propagating from said first feeding end to said second launching end is larger than a propagation time of said electromagnetic wave propagating from said near surface of said material to a remote inner surface of said material, wherein said electromagnetic wave launcher is adapted to delay receipt of said electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from said remote discontinuity of said material by a time period sufficient to distinguish between said reflected electromagnetic wave of interest and reflected spurious signals from said near surface of said material, and wherein said launching end is adapted to be conformal to an area of said near surface of said material; and b. a computer-based processor having an executable computer code configured to: measure said reflected electromagnetic wave of interest to produce frequency domain data; transform said frequency domain data to time domain data; calibrate said time domain data to distance domain data; identify a peak in said distance domain profile associated with said electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from said material; and determine a distance traveled by said electromagnetic wave of interest reflected from said material.