PAHA utilizes linked open vocabulary dataset of Getty Art & Architectural Thesaurus to describe certain metadata properties of the digitized items. That means certain information is described using standardized terms, which may or may not be familiar to everyone. Therefore, the following information and guidelines are provided to make searching through the archive easier
| Terms used in India | Closest match in Getty AAT |
| Bungalows | Detached houses |
| Co-operative Housing Societies and Townships | Subdivisions |
| Farmhouses | Country houses |
| Valuation reports | Appraisals (financial records) |
| Chajjha | Eaves |
| Verandas | Porches |
The term 'Apartment houses' covers the apartment buildings which also have mixed use commercial spaces, typically on the ground floor and residential spaces on the rest of the floors, that are commonly found in Pune.
For more information on architectural styles, visit the interactive timeline on the PAHA landing page.
For a more detailed description of the collection arrangement, refer to this document.