Nonparametric polygonal and multimodel approximation of digital curves with Rate-Distortion curve modeling

How many linear segments are sufficient to represent a shape? In this paper we consider the problem of the nonparametric polygonal and multimodel approximation of digital curves. In order to solve the problem, we propose algorithm that is based on the parameterized model of the Rate-Distortion curve and the multiplicative cost function. By analyzing the minimum of the cost function, we define a solution that produces the best possible balance between the number of segments and the approximation error. The algorithm performed well as it produced the relevant polygonal approximation and two-model approximation (with linear segments and circular arcs).