Arc length estimation and the convergence of polynomial curve interpolation

When fitting parametric polynomial curves to sequences of points or derivatives we have to choose suitable parameter values at the interpolation points. This paper investigates the effect of the parameterization on the approximation order of the interpolation. We show that chord length parameter values yield full approximation order when the polynomial degree is at most three. We obtain full approximation order for arbitrary degree by developing an algorithm which generates more and more accurate approximations to arc length: the lengths of the segments of an interpolant of one degree provide parameter intervals for interpolants of degree two higher. The algorithm can also be used to estimate the length of a curve and its arc-length derivatives.