Digital map editing process using active contour manipulation

A method for improving a digital map using active contour manipulation techniques, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a digital map corresponding to a region of land in reality, the digital map having at least one network element corresponding to a feature in reality;
• providing a new data set corresponding to the same feature in reality as the network element;
• treating one of the network and the new data set as a source geometry having at least first and second active contours spaced apart one from the other and forming a relative shape therebetween, while treating the other of the network and the new data set as an external energy source;
• assigning internal and external energy values to each of the first and second active contours, and assigning a velocity field to the external energy source;
• and
• coupling the first active contour to the second active contour while simultaneously optimizing the positions of the first and second active contours relative to the external energy source using an active contour manipulation strategy wherein the positions of the first and second active contours relative to the external energy source are together iteratively adjusted to more desired positions by trying to lower their respective internal energies in relation to the external energy source without changing the relative shape between the first and second active contours during the said optimizing process.