An automated symbolic recognition system and method includes a three phase symbolic reshaping scheme during the symbol recognition process that includes: (a) deriving dissimilarity level from alphanumeric ID's net topological variation and the integration of each of its arcpoly structural variation(s) signifying a reasonably accurate confidence level for the goodness of recognition, thus establishing a mechanism that derives dissimilarity level (or cost value) between image and database features including shape, size and topological relationship, (b) determining the reshaping or transformation of an arcpoly to another arcpoly by introducing variations to the original arcpoly to alter its shape and orientation and deriving at each step, the new cost value as a function of variation(s) present and imposed, and (c) determining the equivalent representation of an arcpoly by a succession of smaller and adjoining arcpoly(s) in order, or vice versa.