This paper proposes a model to quantify the multiscale representation of a polyline based on iterative head/tail breaks. A polyline is first transformed into a corresponding Fourier descriptor consisting of normalized Fourier-series-expansion coefficients. Then, the most significant finite components of the Fourier descriptor are selected and ranked to constitute the polyline constrained Fourier descriptor. Using Shannon’s information theory, information content of the constrained Fourier-descriptor components is defined. Next, head/tail break...
