System and method for viewing and editing digital maps using a plug-in data abstraction layer for different digital map formats

A system for viewing and editing digital maps using a plugin data abstraction layer for different digital map formats, comprising:

• a set of map data that corresponds to a digital map, and having a first map format associated therewith;
• a data abstraction layer, that allows one or a plurality of data abstraction interfaces to be plugged into the layer, and that includes an interface for the first map format that allows the system to receive and display the map data;
• a semantic definition file that converts map items into a plurality of semantically linked items;
• a display device including a graphical window that is used to display the digital map in a universal display format together with the semantically linked items;
• and
• a user interface that allows an operator to retrieve and display a digital map having the first map format into the system, wherein the system then uses the data abstraction interface and semantic definition file for that map format to receive and display the digital map on the display device in the universal display format.