Techniques and method of spatial database lineage tracing

A lineage-based graphical user interface enables a user to obtain information concerning the various thematic layers in a spatial database which contributed to any particular layer of interest. The component software parses input commands and determines if those commands to the spatial data processing and information systems are valid. The lineage information processor also creates a knowledge representation of the spatial database comprising a meta-database consisting of a semantic network that describes the various data layers in the spatial database and the relationship among these layers. The semantic network consists of parent and child links symbolizing the relationship among data layers, nodes describing the data layers in the spatial database, frames comprising attributes that describe the input data layers, the commands and command modifiers acting on those data layers, and characteristics of the final products. By means of rule-based processing, the lineage information program does not permit combinations of data layers that are incompatible or transformations that are non-valid. When such a problem is detected the lineage information program suggests commands to alter incompatible data layers so that the layers can be combined or transformed in the desired fashion. A graphical user interface enables a user to query the lineage information program concerning the lineage of data layers in the spatial database.