The VIS-NIR hyperspectral imaging system can be used in a stationary modality (that is without spatial scanning) to carry out time resolved reflectance spectroscopy to monitor and control the possible alteration induced by intense radiations, such as optical lasers, X-rays and ion beams. Any change in VIS-NIR (400-900 nm) reflectance (ΔR) is the result of changes in absorption and/or scattering of the material surface under investigation, hence ΔR can provide an indication of both chemical and physical changes of the surface. Moreover, the intrinsically high sensitivity of the VIS-NIR reflectance spectroscopy technique enables the detection of even subtle material changes which are not detectable by other techniques.