a system and method of detecting , quantifying , and characterizing corrosion and degradation of an article , includes receiving signals indicative of a stack of images of a surface of the article ; determining depth and nature of features in the stack of images ; generating a surface model of the article in response to the determination of the depth and the nature of features ; determining features of interest from the surface model ; comparing the features of interest with predetermined information on the article ; and characterizing the article as corroded or degraded in response to the comparisons of the features of interest .