Over 50 Years of Image Moments and Moment Invariants

This chapter aims to analyze the research field of moments and moment invariants in a holistic way. Initially, a literature analysis of the last 50 years is presented and discussed in order to highlight the potential of this topic and the increasing interest in many disciplines. A more in depth study of the issues addressed through the years by the researchers is next presented both in theory and applications of moments. The most representative works in each research direction are discussed in a chronological order to point out the progress in each specific field of action. This analysis concludes with the challenges and perspectives that should motivate researchers towards the promotion of the moments and their invariants to new scientific “horizons”. For the first time, this chapter gives a global overview of what happened in the last 50 years in moments and moment invariants research field, but most of all it brings to light the open issues that should be addressed and highlights the rising topics that will occupy the scientists in the coming years. This chapter serves as a guide to those who find the field of moments and moment invariants a “brilliant field of action” since it encloses all the milestones of this field.