New mathematical and algorithmic schemes for pattern classification with application to the identification of writers of important ancient documents

In this paper, a novel approach is introduced for classifying curves into proper families, according to their similarity. First, a mathematical quantity we call plane curvature is introduced and a number of propositions are stated and proved. Proper similarity measures of two curves are introduced and a subsequent statistical analysis is applied. First, the efficiency of the curve fitting process has been tested on 2 shapes datasets of reference. Next, the methodology has been applied to the very important problem of classifying 23 Byzantine codices and 46 Ancient inscriptions to their writers, thus achieving correct dating of their content. The inscriptions have been attributed to ten individual hands and the Byzantine codices to four writers.

► Definition of a new mathematical entity called plane curvature.
► Resize in the x, y directions independently, is achieved via plane curvature properties.
► Best fit of two contours is achieved and proper similarity measures are defined.
► Pattern classification of curves is realized via introduced statistical methods.
► 6 inscriptions and 23 Byzantine codices were correctly attributed to their writers.