LibGuides: Architecture & Design: AI + Built Environment

———. 2023b. “AI Applications in the Built Environment.” October 20, 2023.

Roper, Jenana. 2025. “The Transformative Influence of AI on the Built Environment.” Schneider Electric Blog. March 20, 2025.

Smart Buildings Media Limited. 2023. “Smart Buildings Media Limited.” Smart Buildings Magazine, November 9,2023.

How to reference AI-generated images

There are not yet clear guidelines for how to incorporate AI-generated images into existing referencing styles such as APA 7th, Chicago, etc. The current recommendation for how to reference AI-generated images varies for each referencing style. Please note the recommendations for how to reference AI-generated content may change in the future as referencing style manuals are updated. Here are the rules and examples of how to cite the picture below using different citation styles.

“All Guides: Artificial Intelligence - Referencing Guidelines: Referencing AI-generated Images.” n.d. https://rmit.libguides.com/referencing_AI_tools/images.

Barkla (2023)

APA 7th Style
Image YOU created using an AI tool	Figure number above the image.Below: Note. Description of image. AI tool used and prompt.	Figure 1 A photo-like image of a man in safety gear. *Image* Note. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.
AI-generated image reproduced from a published source	Figure number above the image.Below: Note. Description of figure. From: "Title", by A. Author, Year, Source, URL, Copyright.	Figure 2 A visualisation of the average engineer generated using an AI model. Image Note. From "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," by C. Barkla, 2023, Create Digital, https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/. Copyright 2023 Engineers Australia.

APA 7th Style

Scenario

Caption Rule

Example Using Barkla (2023)

Image YOU created using an AI tool

Figure number above the image.Below: Note. Description of image. AI tool used and prompt.

Figure 1 A photo-like image of a man in safety gear.

Image

Note. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.

AI-generated image reproduced from a published source

Figure number above the image.Below: Note. Description of figure. From: "Title", by A. Author, Year, Source, URL, Copyright.

Figure 2 A visualisation of the average engineer generated using an AI model.

Image

Note. From "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," by C. Barkla, 2023, Create Digital, https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/. Copyright 2023 Engineers Australia.

Chicago A Style
Scenario	Caption Rule	Example Using Barkla (2023)
Image YOU created using an AI tool	Figure number. Description or explanation.Include AI tool and prompt in caption.	Figure 1. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.
AI-generated image reproduced from a published source	Figure number. Artist’s Name (if known), Title (if known), Year (if known). Medium, in Author Name, source details (e.g. website).	Figure 2. Stylianos Moschoglou, AI-generated image of the ‘average’ engineer, 2023. Artwork created using machine learning, in C. Barkla, "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," Create Digital, March 1, 2023, https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/.

IEEE Style
Image YOU created using an AI tool	Fig. number. Description of figureInclude the tool used and prompt in the caption.	Fig. 1. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.
AI-generated image reproduced from a published source	Fig. number. Description of figure [reference number]Include a numbered citation in references.	Fig. 2. A typical engineer as created by Stylianos Moschoglou using an AI machine learning model [1] Reference list: [1] C. Barkla, "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," Create Digital. Available: https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/ (accessed Mar. 1, 2023).

IEEE Style

Scenario

Caption Rule

Example Using Barkla (2023)

Image YOU created using an AI tool

Fig. number. Description of figureInclude the tool used and prompt in the caption.

Fig. 1. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.

AI-generated image reproduced from a published source

Fig. number. Description of figure [reference number]Include a numbered citation in references.

Fig. 2. A typical engineer as created by Stylianos Moschoglou using an AI machine learning model [1]

Reference list:
[1] C. Barkla, "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," Create Digital. Available: https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/ (accessed Mar. 1, 2023).

AGLC4 Style
Image YOU created using an AI tool	Figure number. Description of figureInclude a note that the image was generated with an AI tool and the prompt used.	Figure 1. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.
AI-generated image reproduced from a published source	Figure number. Description of figure [note number] Footnote includes full citation of the source.	Figure 2. A typical engineer as created by Stylianos Moschoglou using an AI machine learning model [1] Footnote: C Barkla, "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," Create Digital (online, 2023) https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/.

AGLC4 Style

Scenario

Caption Rule

Example Using Barkla (2023)

Image YOU created using an AI tool

Figure number. Description of figureInclude a note that the image was generated with an AI tool and the prompt used.

Figure 1. Image generated using Adobe Express (Premium) from the prompt a typical engineer.

AI-generated image reproduced from a published source

Figure number. Description of figure [note number]

Footnote includes full citation of the source.

Figure 2. A typical engineer as created by Stylianos Moschoglou using an AI machine learning model [1]

Footnote:

C Barkla, "AI created an image of the ‘average’ engineer – but it’s not the whole picture," Create Digital (online, 2023) https://createdigital.org.au/what-average-engineer-looks-like-ai/.

Artificial Intelligence and the Built Environment

The integration of AI into architectural practice will shape the future of our profession and the built environment. This LibGuide provides resources, including books, journals & articles, and AI tools actively used in real-world applications.