mirror of
https://github.com/mblanke/Gov_Travel_App.git
synced 2026-03-01 14:10:22 -05:00
mblanke
15094ac94b
- Implemented Python scraper using BeautifulSoup and pandas to automatically collect travel rates from official NJC website - Added currency extraction from table titles (supports EUR, USD, AUD, CAD, ARS, etc.) - Added country extraction from table titles for international rates - Flatten pandas MultiIndex columns for cleaner data structure - Default to CAD for domestic Canadian sources (accommodations and domestic tables) - Created SQLite database schema (raw_tables, rate_entries, exchange_rates, accommodations) - Successfully scraped 92 tables with 17,205 rate entries covering 25 international cities - Added migration script to convert scraped data to Node.js database format - Updated .gitignore for Python files (.venv/, __pycache__, *.pyc, *.sqlite3) - Fixed city validation and currency conversion in main app - Added comprehensive debug and verification scripts This replaces manual JSON maintenance with automated data collection from official government source.
249 lines
6.8 KiB
Markdown
249 lines
6.8 KiB
Markdown
# Database Implementation Summary
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## ✅ Completed Changes
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The Government Travel Cost Estimator has been upgraded to use JSON databases for easy rate management.
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## 📊 New Database Files
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### 1. `data/perDiemRates.json`
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**Purpose:** Stores meal allowances and incidental expense rates
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**Contains:**
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- Meal rates (breakfast, lunch, dinner) for all regions
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- 100%, 75%, and 50% rate tiers for extended stays
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- Incidental expense allowances
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- Private accommodation allowances
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- Metadata (effective date, version, last update)
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**Regions Included:**
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- Canada (provinces)
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- Yukon
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- Northwest Territories
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- Nunavut
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- Continental USA
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- Alaska
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- International (average rates)
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**Size:** ~4KB
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**Format:** JSON
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**Last Updated:** October 30, 2025
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**Effective Date:** October 1, 2025
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---
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### 2. `data/accommodationRates.json`
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**Purpose:** Stores hotel and accommodation rates by city
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**Contains:**
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- Standard and maximum rates for 30+ major cities
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- Regional default rates
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- International city rates
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- Currency information
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- Government rate guidelines
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**Cities Included:**
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- **Canada:** Ottawa, Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Halifax, Quebec City, Victoria, Whitehorse, Yellowknife, Iqaluit
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- **USA:** New York, Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Anchorage
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- **International:** London, Paris, Tokyo, Beijing, Sydney, Dubai, Brussels, Geneva
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**Size:** ~6KB
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**Format:** JSON
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**Last Updated:** October 30, 2025
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---
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## 🔄 Code Changes
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### Modified: `script.js`
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**Changes:**
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1. Removed hardcoded rate constants
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2. Added database loading functions (`loadDatabases()`)
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3. Added rate lookup functions (`getAllowancesForRegion()`, `getAccommodationSuggestion()`)
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4. Added automatic accommodation rate suggestions
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5. Updated footer to show database effective dates
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6. Added error handling for database loading
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**New Functions:**
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- `loadDatabases()` - Async function to load both JSON files
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- `getAllowancesForRegion(destinationType)` - Gets per diem rates from database
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- `getAccommodationSuggestion(city, type)` - Gets suggested accommodation rates
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- `updateMetadataDisplay()` - Updates footer with database dates
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- `handleDestinationInput()` - Provides accommodation suggestions as user types
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### Modified: `index.html`
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**Changes:**
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1. Added accommodation suggestion placeholder
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2. Updated footer to display dynamic database dates
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---
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## 📚 Documentation Created
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### 1. `DATABASE_UPDATE_GUIDE.md` (Detailed, ~250 lines)
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Complete step-by-step instructions for updating rates including:
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- When to update databases
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- How to update per diem rates
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- How to update accommodation rates
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- JSON validation procedures
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- Testing procedures
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- Version control guidelines
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- International rate handling
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- Data integrity checklist
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### 2. `DATABASE_SCHEMA.md` (Technical Reference, ~200 lines)
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Technical documentation including:
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- Complete JSON structure specifications
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- Field definitions and data types
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- Validation rules
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- Lookup logic
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- Example entries
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- Update frequency guidelines
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### 3. Updated `README.md`
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Added sections:
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- Database structure overview
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- File listing with database files
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- Link to update guide
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---
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## 🎯 Benefits of Database Approach
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### ✅ Advantages:
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1. **Easy Updates** - No code changes needed for rate updates
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2. **Maintainability** - Rates separate from application logic
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3. **Version Control** - Track rate changes with metadata
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4. **Scalability** - Easy to add new cities and regions
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5. **Flexibility** - Support for extended stay rates (future feature)
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6. **Transparency** - Rates visible in human-readable JSON
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7. **Validation** - Can validate rates before deployment
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8. **Documentation** - Metadata embedded in database files
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### 📈 Features Enabled:
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- Automatic accommodation suggestions based on destination city
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- Dynamic footer showing rate effective dates
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- Foundation for extended stay rate reductions
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- Easy addition of new cities/regions
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- Currency handling per region
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- Rate tier support (100%, 75%, 50%)
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---
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## 🔧 Maintenance Workflow
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### Regular Updates (Annual)
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1. Download new NJC rates (typically October 1st)
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2. Open `data/perDiemRates.json`
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3. Update rates and metadata
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4. Validate JSON syntax
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5. Test application
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6. Deploy
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### Ad-hoc Updates
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- Add new cities to `accommodationRates.json`
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- Adjust accommodation rates as needed
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- Update international rates for currency changes
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### Time Required
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- Per diem update: ~15-30 minutes
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- Accommodation update: ~5-10 minutes per city
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- Testing: ~10 minutes
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---
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## 📦 File Structure
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```
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Govt Travel App/
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├── index.html
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├── styles.css
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├── script.js
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├── README.md
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├── Govt Links.txt
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├── DATABASE_UPDATE_GUIDE.md ← NEW
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├── DATABASE_SCHEMA.md ← NEW
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├── DATABASE_SUMMARY.md ← NEW (this file)
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└── data/ ← NEW
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├── perDiemRates.json ← NEW
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└── accommodationRates.json ← NEW
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```
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---
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## 🧪 Testing Checklist
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After database updates, test:
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- [ ] Application loads without errors
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- [ ] Per diem rates calculate correctly for each region
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- [ ] Accommodation suggestions appear for known cities
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- [ ] Footer displays correct effective date
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- [ ] Calculator produces accurate totals
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- [ ] All destination types work
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- [ ] Console shows no errors (F12)
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---
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## 🔒 Data Integrity
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### Validation Performed:
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✅ JSON syntax validated
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✅ All required fields present
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✅ Rate calculations verified (75% = 0.75 × 100%)
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✅ Currency codes consistent
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✅ Region keys match application options
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✅ City keys properly formatted
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✅ Metadata complete and current
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---
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## 📞 Support Resources
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**For Rate Updates:**
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- [NJC Appendix C](https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/travel-voyage/td-dv-a3-eng.php)
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- [NJC Appendix D](https://www.njc-cnm.gc.ca/directive/app_d.php?lang=en)
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- [Accommodation Directory](https://rehelv-acrd.tpsgc-pwgsc.gc.ca/lth-crl-eng.aspx)
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**For Technical Help:**
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- See `DATABASE_UPDATE_GUIDE.md` for procedures
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- See `DATABASE_SCHEMA.md` for structure reference
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- Use [JSONLint](https://jsonlint.com/) for validation
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---
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## 🚀 Future Enhancements
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Database structure is ready for:
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- [ ] Extended stay rate reductions (31+, 121+ days)
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- [ ] Multiple traveler support
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- [ ] Historical rate comparisons
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- [ ] Currency conversion
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- [ ] Rate change notifications
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- [ ] Automated rate imports
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- [ ] API integration for real-time rates
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---
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## 📊 Database Statistics
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**Per Diem Database:**
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- 7 regions covered
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- 3 meal types × 3 rate tiers = 9 rates per region
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- Incidental rates for all regions
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- Total: ~60 rate values
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**Accommodation Database:**
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- 13 Canadian cities
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- 8 US cities
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- 8 International cities
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- 7 Regional defaults
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- Total: 36 location entries
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**Combined Size:** ~10KB (very lightweight)
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---
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**Implementation Date:** October 30, 2025
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**Database Version:** 1.0
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**Status:** ✅ Complete and Tested
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