SPIKE: Understand Data Journey to Google Maps

[Agile6MSkinner]

Description

We would like to understand how an address gets from it's source of record to displaying in Google Map. In this spike we will need to investigate all avenues that lead to google maps so that we can better troubleshoot issues and potentially design better systems.

In short: How does data get from source to GMaps URL. How to we transform along the way. Makes sense to organize by facility type.

Associated Issues

#12072
#19379

Existing Resources

• https://github.com/department-of-veterans-affairs/va.gov-team/tree/master/products/facilities/facilities-api
• https://github.com/department-of-veterans-affairs/va.gov-cms/blob/main/READMES/migrations-facility.md#data-flow

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Facility type	Source
VA health (VAMCs, CBOCs, etc)	VAST -> VSSC -> BISL - > CDW -> Lighthouse
Vet Centers and Outstations	VAST -> VSSC -> BISL - > CDW -> Lighthouse
Vet Center CAPs	Editor created in Drupal - no presence in VAST
VBA (Region offices, Satellites and other benefit location types)	Sandy's DB - > CDW -> Lighthouse
NCA - national cemeteries	name and website from NCA XML - all other data from CDW XML file
NCA - state cemeteries	NCA XML file

Other relevant processes

• new stations in VAST get a preliminary lat/long but the official geocoded attributes come from GSSC on monthly basis
• Lighthouse does daily validation on (mailing) address (using "VA address validator")

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Acceptance Criteria

• List sources of address data for each facility type.
• Find any intermediary steps/platforms/systems that are involved
• Describe how that data is transformed into "Get Directions on Google Maps" link in Facility Locator search results (All listed in dropdown)
• Describe how that data is transformed into "Get Directions on Google Maps" link in modernized facility sites
  • And any subpages, etc
• Describe how that data is transformed into "Get Directions on Google Maps" link in facility detail page (FL-generated)
• Event listing pages
• Include explanation of URL parameters that are used
• Create visual diagram artifact

[jilladams]

From 23 planning: we are also looking into Mapbox static image calls and whether that will affect scope.