A method for performing automatic trace retrieval includes receiving a first and second model for a system or service (S10). The first model includes a first plurality of model artifacts at least partially represented by a first semantic style and the second model includes a second plurality of artifacts at least partially represented by a second semantic style. Training data including one or more correspondences between artifacts of the first plurality of model artifacts and artifacts of the second plurality of artifacts is collected. A semantic transformation table is generated for converting between the first and second semantic styles using the collected training data (S11). The generated semantic transformation table is used in tracing associations between artifacts of the first plurality of artifacts and artifacts of the second plurality of artifacts (S12).