Digital Preservation of Labu Sayong: A Comparative Study of Higher-Order GT-Bézier Curves

Abstract

This paper explores the modeling of the Labu Sayong, a traditional Malaysian pottery form, using higher-order Generalized Trigonometric (GT) Bézier curves. The research compares Cubic (m = 3) and Quartic (m = 4) curves through the rotational sweep surface method. Evaluation metrics include Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for geometric accuracy, CPU processing time for computational efficiency, volumetric calculations for functional preservation and curvature profiles for smoothness. Data was extracted from a symmetrical reference image and discretized into 24 distinct segments, utilizing 72 control points for the Cubic model and 96 for the Quartic model. Results indicate that the Cubic GT-Bézier curve achieves superior accuracy with a lower average RMSE of 1.33759 and a faster average computation time of 96.78 seconds. Furthermore, curvature assessment confirms that the Cubic formulation maintains a stable organic flow without the localized ripple distortions observed in the Quartic model. These findings conclude that higher-order curves do not necessarily guarantee superior reconstruction, with the Cubic curve providing the optimal balance between mathematical precision and computational efficiency for the digital preservation of axially symmetric cultural artifacts.