1. A method of obtaining both location information and spectral information regarding an object, the method comprising: generating a laser pulse; dividing the laser pulse into a monochromatic laser pulse and a wave-length broadened white laser pulse; delaying the wave-length broadened white laser pulse with respect to the monochromatic laser pulse; combining the monochromatic laser pulse and the delayed wave-length broadened white laser pulse to provide a combined laser pulse signal; directing the combined laser pulse signal to a point on the object and receiving a corresponding return light signal that includes a laser pulse portion and a broadband portion; providing the laser pulse portion of the return light signal to optical detector and timing electronics to generate object location information; dividing the broadband portion of the return light signal into a number of spectral components; providing each of the spectral components to an associated intensity-related measuring/detection circuit triggered by timing signals received from the optical detector and timing electronics to generate corresponding object spectral information such that the object location information and object spectral information regarding the point on the object are extracted simultaneously from the same laser pulse.