A method, comprising: initializing a dimensioning system adapted to measure dimensions of an object on a measurement platform by: at a range camera, capturing one or more initial reference images of the measurement platform forming a reference plane for dimensioning and surrounding area; at a processor: generating a reference depth map from each initial reference image; generating and storing to a memory a background model from the captured initial reference depth maps; testing the dimensioning system for a scene change by: at the range camera, capturing a subsequent image of the measurement platform and surrounding area; at the processor: generating a current depth map from the subsequent image; comparing each pixel of the current depth map with a corresponding pixel of the background model; and counting a number of pixels Pv of the current depth map that differ absolutely from the background model by more than the prescribed threshold THRESH1, and if the number of pixels Pv is greater than a threshold THRESH2, determining that a significant change in the image has occurred. initializing a dimensioning system adapted to measure dimensions of an object on a measurement platform by: at a range camera, capturing one or more initial reference images of the measurement platform forming a reference plane for dimensioning and surrounding area; at a processor: generating a reference depth map from each initial reference image; generating and storing to a memory a background model from the captured initial reference depth maps; at a range camera, capturing one or more initial reference images of the measurement platform forming a reference plane for dimensioning and surrounding area; at a processor: generating a reference depth map from each initial reference image; generating and storing to a memory a background model from the captured initial reference depth maps; generating a reference depth map from each initial reference image; generating and storing to a memory a background model from the captured initial reference depth maps; testing the dimensioning system for a scene change by: at the range camera, capturing a subsequent image of the measurement platform and surrounding area; at the processor: generating a current depth map from the subsequent image; comparing each pixel of the current depth map with a corresponding pixel of the background model; and counting a number of pixels Pv of the current depth map that differ absolutely from the background model by more than the prescribed threshold THRESH1, and if the number of pixels Pv is greater than a threshold THRESH2, determining that a significant change in the image has occurred. at the range camera, capturing a subsequent image of the measurement platform and surrounding area; at the processor: generating a current depth map from the subsequent image; comparing each pixel of the current depth map with a corresponding pixel of the background model; and counting a number of pixels Pv of the current depth map that differ absolutely from the background model by more than the prescribed threshold THRESH1, and if the number of pixels Pv is greater than a threshold THRESH2, determining that a significant change in the image has occurred. generating a current depth map from the subsequent image; comparing each pixel of the current depth map with a corresponding pixel of the background model; and counting a number of pixels Pv of the current depth map that differ absolutely from the background model by more than the prescribed threshold THRESH1, and if the number of pixels Pv is greater than a threshold THRESH2, determining that a significant change in the image has occurred.