To solve the problem that architects were always having problems in finding suitable architectural images effectively from websites

a semantic acquisition method of architectural images based on web annotation technology was proposed. First

the concepts and types of architectural images and semantics were defined. Second

the framework and operational processes of this method were illustrated. Finally

the feasibility and validity of this method were verified by famous building websites as examples. Regarding to operational process

there were three steps: building the architectural semantic dictionary by adding artificially and learning online; collecting 6 items of image-related texts (image's name

image's annotation

information around images

webpage's title

webpage's body

and the title of image's hyperlink) from websites where the images were founded; collecting semantics of images according to certain rules

relating them to image files and keeping them to the database of architectural images. This study indicates that the proposed method is feasible and easy to be operated. Architectural images can be automatically downloaded in batches and more than 30 items of architectural semantic characteristics will be collected

such as names

categories

themes of architectural images

as well as names and types of projects. As a result

the semantic acquisition method of architectural images will effectively overcome the problem that architectural images are hard to be searched and it will help architects to improve their abilities of innovation by using images from websites.