Content-based multimedia Indexing is a large research area covering various aspects of media analysis, description and retrieval. This dynamic research is moving very fast to more and more complex methods based on the latest advances in feature design, feature fusion, semi-supervised learning.

It is 11 years now that the first Workshop on Content Based Multimedia Indexing (CBMI) was organized. Since then CBMI evolved as one of the main forums for the presentation of the latest research advances in the field. It combines academic presentations, system demonstrations, discussions on industrial needs and product developments in multimedia indexing, search, retrieval, navigation and browsing. CBMI is now a well-established forum serving the needs to discuss developments in the field, foster relations among fragmented research groups across Europe and improve synergies between key players and research teams in the EU. Large EU cooperative projects and groups from several countries in and outside Europe are involved.

Following the seven successful previous events of CBMI (Toulouse 1999, Brescia 2001, Rennes 2003, Riga 2005, Bordeaux 2007, London 2008 and Chania 2009), the 8th International Workshop on Content-Based Multimedia Indexing (CBMI 2010) was hosted by the Laboratory of Informatics of Grenoble (LIG).

CBMI 2010 received 46 submissions from which the program committee selected 19 as oral presentations and eight as poster presentations. Among these papers, some deserved more space to present ideas and results and a broader diffusion; MTAP offered to publish the best of them. This year, the special issue associated to CBMI has been open to authors that did not presented a paper at the workshop. 31 papers were submitted, seven of which were a new and enlarged version of a paper presented at CBMI. All papers were subject to a review according to the journal rules. Eleven among them were finally accepted for publication.

We are deeply grateful to all those who have helped to accomplish the task of successfully organizing CBMI 2010 and this special issue of MTAP. Special thanks to the Program Committee members and the reviewers of both the conference and this issue who have contributed to the high quality of the works presented here, to the Steering Committee members, the special session organizers and the invited speakers who undoubtedly helped to enhance the profile of CBMI 2010 and to attract many high quality papers.

Finally, we are indebted to all the authors of the papers submitted to the workshop and to this special issue. They constitute the true force behind the success of the workshop and are the first accountable for the quality and the interest of this issue.

Georges Quénot

CBMI’10 General Chair

Alan Hanjalic

Cees Snoek

Régine André-Obrecht

CBMI’10 Program Chairs

Georges Quénot

Jenny Benois-Pineau

Régine André-Obrecht

MTAP Guest Editors