Embodiments relate to converting semi-structured spatial data. Initially, semi-structured spatial data is recursively traversed to determine a dynamically nested structure. The dynamically nested structure is translated into an application specific layer structure based on feature type grouping and display capabilities of a geographic information system (GIS) application. Next, an input symbology is determined for each feature in the semi-structured spatial data. The input symbology of each feature is analyzed to determine an application symbology for each map layer in the GIS application. A spatial database is created for the GIS application based on the application specific layer structure. The features are translated from the semi-structured spatial data into the spatial database, and the application symbology of each map layer is used to render the features in the GIS application.