A senior lecturer at Nottingham Trent University and a PhD graduate have helped to develop a new search engine for users of Press Association Image's online image database
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Press Association Images has been working with Nottingham Trent University to help improve its search facility for users accessing the millions of photos in its online picture library.
Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) , Dr Taha Osman, senior lecturer in Computing and Technology at the university and PhD graduate, Dhavalkumar Thakker, worked with the photo agency to help develop a search engine that would speed up the process and provide more accurate results.
PA Images, part of PA Group Ltd, currently processes around 7,000 images a day and runs an online database of approximately four million images, used for storage and retrieval by both its staff and customers.
Within the new search engine, each image caption will be annotated with additional information, such as the spouse name of an individual, previous clubs of a footballer, or a place of birth.
In a press release, Dr Osman said the new system will help tackle the increasing problem of matching images to user needs.
“Users generally enter very simple searches which may result in several hundred images in their results. If they don't see what they're looking for on the first couple of pages of results, they may decide to look on an alternate supplier’s website.
"Many of the images available from PA Images are taken at events where other photo agencies are present, so can be sourced elsewhere. This, coupled with a global recession, meant that the need for customers to find what they’re looking for first time has never been so crucial."
The system is currently being implemented at PA Images. Managing director Martin Stephens said it will be a "vital tool" to support the growth of the business.
"This KTP has moved us to a position where we can implement systems to help customers find the image they need without entering complex search terms. The work we have done has also enabled us to enter into discussions about working together with the university again on future projects which we believe can give us an edge in a difficult market." Earlier this week the Press Association also announced it will be distributing images from amateur photographers for the first time after striking a deal with citizen newswire Demotix.
Demotix, which is two years old this January, receives contributions from amateurs across the globe and sells them on to media buyers.
Under the new deal, PA will take an undisclosed cut of the final fee for any image, with Demotix sharing the remainder of the fee 50/50 with the contributor.
