Abstract: A method for inspecting a rail of a conveyor system includes illuminating the rail with a light beam in the form of a line of light directed obliquely to a surface of the rail. The method further includes translating the light beam along the rail in a direction of translation, the direction of translation generally perpendicular to the line of light and sensing reflection of the light beam from the surface as the light beam is translated. The method additionally includes using the reflection to create a three-dimensional topography of the surface, applying thresholds to the three-dimensional topography to detect features of potential interest in the topography, and determining physical characteristics of the features of potential interest. In addition, the method includes using the physical characteristics to identify faults in the rail associated with the features of potential interest and mapping locations of the faults.