1. A method characterizing a workpiece with the use of a measurement apparatus that comprises a focused light source that is structured to project a beam onto the workpiece, an image collection device that is structured to detect a reflection of the beam on the workpiece and to generate a number of images, and an image analysis device that has access to a calibration data set, the image collection device and the image analysis device being in electronic communication, the method comprising: projecting at least a first beam onto the workpiece; capturing an image that comprises a number of illuminated pixels representative of at least a portion of the at least first beam on the workpiece; employing the calibration data set to convert at least some of the illuminated pixels of the image into a number of points in space that are each representative of a point on a surface of the workpiece; and processing the points in space in a predetermined fashion to generate the characterization of the workpiece.