Abstract: Various embodiments include methods and scanning systems for photonically detecting an object of high-interest having selective wavelength reflection. Various embodiments include sequentially scanning the environment by projecting a coherent pulsed electromagnetic beam of light of a first wavelength. Reflected light of the first coherent beam is received onto a photoelectric detector, which outputs digital intensity data. Various embodiments further include sequentially scanning the environment by projecting a coherent pulsed electromagnetic beam of light of a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. Reflected light of the second coherent beam is received onto a photoelectric detector, which outputs digital intensity data. The intensity of the reflected light of the first wavelength may be compared with the intensity reflected light of the second wavelength, and an alert may be sent to an autonomous vehicle system in response to the intensity difference exceeding a threshold.