Abstract: According to the invention, a method for identifying and determining die position of a metallurgical vessel for measuring its fireproof lining using electromagnetic radiation, an operator is defined in relation to a two or three dimensional structure with a known shape and size. Distance values and corresponding measuring angles are determined in the area of the structure and measured distance value and corresponding measuring angles are used to scale the operator. The dimension and resolution of the operator in the pixel coordinates system and the anticipated values of the operator are adapted to the measured polar coordinates. A result value is then formed from the differences between the anticipated values of the operator and the measured values and the location of the structure that is sought is determined from the position of the minimum result value.