Locale
Locale Classification
The locale
field is a meta-classification that provides a standardized, high-level categorization of the reporting location. This classification is derived from multiple data points including place types, feature tags, and business categorizations, providing a simplified yet comprehensive way to understand the type of establishment involved.
Available Locale Types
Food Service
Restaurant - Traditional sit-down or quick-service restaurants
Food Truck - Mobile food vendors and food trucks
Cafe - Coffee shops and casual dining establishments
Bakery - Specialized bread and pastry establishments
Bar - Drinking establishments and pubs
Retail & Shopping
Grocery - Supermarkets and grocery stores
Convenience - Convenience stores and mini-marts
Department Store - Large retail establishments
Pharmacy - Drug stores and pharmacies
Furniture Store - Furniture and home goods retailers
Gas Station - Service stations and associated convenience stores
Transportation & Travel
Airport - Air transportation facilities
Airline-Inflight - Food service during flights
Transit Station - Bus stations, train stations, and other transit hubs
Cruise - Cruise ships and associated facilities
Education & Healthcare
School-University - Educational institutions, including colleges
Hospital - Medical facilities and healthcare centers
Nursing Home - Long-term care and assisted living facilities
Entertainment & Leisure
Theater - Movie theaters and entertainment venues
Stadium - Sports venues and large event spaces
Casino - Gaming establishments
Amusement - Theme parks and entertainment centers
Tourist Attraction - Points of interest and tourist destinations
Service & Delivery
Meal Delivery - Food delivery services
Lodging - Hotels and accommodation services
Classification Logic
The locale type is determined through a hierarchical analysis of:
Feature tags (
fetags
) - Specific business identifiersPlace types (
place_types
) - Google Places API classificationsBusiness categorization buckets (
bucket01
,bucket02
) - Internal business classifications
This provides a consistent way to group similar establishments while maintaining specificity where needed. For example, a university cafeteria and a public school would both be classified as "School-University", while a restaurant in an airport would be classified based on its primary function as "Restaurant".
Usage Notes
A single establishment can only have one locale classification
Classification follows a precedence order (e.g., feature tags take priority over place types)
The classification system is designed to be mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive
New locale types may be added as needed to accommodate emerging business models
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