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 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 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 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 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 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 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. <EOS>