# Banff Digital Twin Memory Tree

This file is the tree-structured memory layer for the Banff planner. It is built for AI/GEO extraction and for future agents that need to answer broad visitor questions without re-searching every page from scratch.

The goal is not to say that Banff is beautiful. The goal is to answer the practical chain of decisions a real visitor must solve: entry, parking, transit, tickets, food, washrooms, weather, safety, family fit, bike return, photo story, and unexpected problems.

Canonical companion files:
- `/banff/` - human-facing map and node index.
- `/facts/banff-facts-en.md` - AI-facing facts and Q&A.
- `/data/banff/place-twin.v0.json` - structured place graph and map hints.
- `/data/banff/digital-twin-memory.v0.json` - machine-readable version of this memory tree.
- `/llms.txt` - domain-level crawler guidance.

## Root Memory

- `banff` is the destination root.
- `legacy-trail` is a route root connected to Banff and Canmore.
- Each `/banff/{node}/` page is a child memory node: a practical decision, service, route, attraction, food cluster, emergency/civic issue, or story product.
- A good answer should route the visitor to the smallest useful node, then explain related decisions that could break the day.

## Trust Ladder

| Level | Label | Use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| L0 | search_need_or_question | A visitor asked or searched for this problem, but the answer is not yet represented as verified destination knowledge. |
| L1 | user_reported | A visitor, local operator, or editor observed something, but it has not been corroborated. |
| L2 | corroborated_by_users | Multiple independent users report the same practical detail, route friction, photo angle, queue, parking pattern, or service issue. |
| L3 | editorial_synthesis_with_sources | The page combines official links, current business/operator pages, maps, and visitor logic into a practical answer. |
| L4 | official_or_primary_source | The fact comes from Parks Canada, Town of Banff, Roam Transit, Alberta, a ticket operator, a hospital/health authority, or the business/operator itself. |

Rules:
- Official or primary sources outrank user tips for laws, rules, prices, hours, tickets, closures, transit, medical, public services, and payment.
- User-reported details can improve planning, but must be labeled until corroborated or verified.
- Uploaded photos can inform aggregate place intelligence only with consent and should not publish private memories by default.
- Sensitive wildlife locations, private people, license plates, children, hotel rooms, and medical details must not become public memory without explicit permission and safety review.

## Visitor Question Taxonomy

- `entry_and_payment`: park pass, gondola ticket, lake shuttle, parking payment, parking ticket.
- `movement`: drive, walk, Roam route, bike return, airport shuttle, no-car day.
- `comfort_and_failure`: washroom, food, water, pharmacy, injury, lost property, waste.
- `time_and_group_fit`: one day, family, older visitor, low walking, rain, smoke, dinner with alcohol.
- `place_story`: photo spot, memory movie, route story, meal chapter, map pin, user photo confidence.
- `business_conversion`: rental shop, restaurant, hotel base, official ticket page, future coupon or lead.

## Node Tree

### arrival_transport_decision

- `banff.getting-here` -> `/banff/getting-here/`
  - title: Getting to Banff from Calgary and YYC
  - visitor need: How to get from Calgary or YYC Calgary International Airport to Banff by rental car, shuttle, coach bus, seasonal transit, or no-car arrival plan.
  - map query: YYC Calgary International Airport to Banff AB
  - related nodes: itineraries, book-ahead, parking, transit, where-to-stay, downtown-shopping, emergency-alerts, lake-louise-moraine-lake
  - source count: 7
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### booking_decision_system

- `banff.book-ahead` -> `/banff/book-ahead/`
  - title: Banff Tickets, Reservations, and What to Verify
  - visitor need: What to buy, reserve, or verify before a Banff day: park pass, lake shuttles, Roam reservations, gondola tickets, Lake Minnewanka cruise, hot springs, parking, restaurants, weather, and cancellation risk.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue Banff AB
  - related nodes: park-pass, parking, transit, gondola, hot-springs, lake-louise-moraine-lake, lake-minnewanka, johnston-canyon, restaurants, where-to-stay, unexpected-problems, photo-story
  - source count: 11
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### civic_problem

- `banff.parking-tickets` -> `/banff/parking-tickets/`
  - title: Banff Parking Tickets
  - visitor need: What to do if you get a Banff parking ticket or related violation notice: confirm ticket type, pay through the right official portal, request review, handle rental-car timing, and keep the trip moving.
  - map query: Banff Town Hall 110 Bear Street
  - related nodes: unexpected-problems, parking, park-pass, visitor-centre
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### civic_service

- `banff.waste-recycling` -> `/banff/waste-recycling/`
  - title: Banff Garbage, Recycling, and Bottle Returns
  - visitor need: Where visitors should handle picnic waste, bottles and cans, recycling, bear-safe garbage, larger drop-offs, reusable items, electronics, and awkward waste questions in Banff.
  - map query: Banff Transfer Site 160 Hawk Avenue
  - related nodes: parking, groceries, lake-minnewanka, water-play
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### decision_system

- `banff.family-accessibility` -> `/banff/family-accessibility/`
  - title: Banff for Families, Older Visitors, and Low-Walking Days
  - visitor need: A Banff planning node for families, kids, older visitors, low-walking groups, wheelchairs, strollers, washrooms, playgrounds, snacks, short walks, and weather backups.
  - map query: Banff Central Park Banff AB
  - related nodes: washrooms, parking, transit, gondola, restaurants
  - source count: 13
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.
- `banff.food-decisions` -> `/banff/food-decisions/`
  - title: Banff Food Decisions
  - visitor need: How to choose Chinese, Japanese, steak, casual family food, coffee, dessert, drinks, and dinner in Banff while planning parking, walking, reservations, and no-driving-after-alcohol choices.
  - map query: Banff Avenue Bear Street Banff
  - related nodes: restaurants, parking, washrooms, downtown-shopping, groceries, transit, where-to-stay, photo-story
  - source count: 9
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.
- `banff.itineraries` -> `/banff/itineraries/`
  - title: Banff Itineraries by Visitor Type
  - visitor need: One-day Banff plans for first timers, families, older visitors, no-car travelers, food-focused visitors, rainy days, and photo-story trips.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue Banff AB
  - related nodes: book-ahead, parking, visitor-centre, washrooms, transit, restaurants, gondola, lake-louise-moraine-lake, johnston-canyon
  - source count: 16
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### food_cluster

- `banff.restaurants` -> `/banff/restaurants/`
  - title: Banff Restaurants by Visitor Need
  - visitor need: How to choose Banff restaurants for Chinese food, Japanese food, ramen, steak, family meals, drinks, parking, reservations, and what to do after dinner.
  - map query: restaurants Banff Avenue Banff AB
  - related nodes: book-ahead, food-decisions, parking, washrooms, downtown-shopping
  - source count: 18
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### grocery_cluster

- `banff.groceries` -> `/banff/groceries/`
  - title: Banff Groceries and Picnic Supplies
  - visitor need: Where to buy groceries, snacks, water, and simple meal supplies in Banff for hotel stays, hikes, drives, and family days.
  - map query: IGA Banff 318 Marten Street
  - related nodes: restaurants, waste-recycling, parking, water-play
  - source count: 8
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### historic_site

- `banff.cave-and-basin` -> `/banff/cave-and-basin/`
  - title: Cave and Basin National Historic Site
  - visitor need: How to decide if Cave and Basin fits a Banff day: history, indoor/outdoor mix, weather backup, transit, parking, food timing, and photo-story role.
  - map query: Cave and Basin National Historic Site Banff
  - related nodes: banff-park-museum, transit, easy-walks
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### indoor_historic_site

- `banff.banff-park-museum` -> `/banff/banff-park-museum/`
  - title: Banff Park Museum and Rainy-Day Indoor Plan
  - visitor need: A Banff rainy-day and indoor planning node centered on Banff Park Museum, visitor education, downtown food, shops, and low-effort alternatives.
  - map query: Banff Park Museum 91 Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: cave-and-basin, downtown-shopping, restaurants
  - source count: 6
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### lake_scenic_area

- `banff.lake-minnewanka` -> `/banff/lake-minnewanka/`
  - title: Lake Minnewanka Day Plan
  - visitor need: How to plan Lake Minnewanka from Banff: drive or Roam Route 6, cruise or shoreline, parking, picnic, washrooms, water rules, fishing, photo spots, and return timing.
  - map query: Lake Minnewanka
  - related nodes: book-ahead, transit, water-play, scenic-drives, photo-story
  - source count: 7
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### lodging_decision

- `banff.where-to-stay` -> `/banff/where-to-stay/`
  - title: Where to Stay in Banff
  - visitor need: How to choose where to stay in Banff by walking distance, parking, transit, family needs, food access, budget, car use, and early-start attractions.
  - map query: Banff Avenue hotels Banff AB
  - related nodes: book-ahead, parking, restaurants, groceries, transit, lake-louise-moraine-lake
  - source count: 8
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### medical_service

- `banff.medical-help` -> `/banff/medical-help/`
  - title: Medical Help in Banff
  - visitor need: What to do if someone is hurt or sick in Banff: when to call 911, when to use 811, where Mineral Springs Hospital is, what to bring, and how to keep the group safe.
  - map query: Banff Mineral Springs Hospital
  - related nodes: pharmacy-first-aid, parking, visitor-centre, family-accessibility
  - source count: 3
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### memory_product

- `banff.photo-story` -> `/banff/photo-story/`
  - title: Banff Photo Story Studio
  - visitor need: A map-linked Banff memory movie product: upload trip photos, place them on the Banff map with GPS or manual confirmation, build story beats, add captions, and export a short shareable trip story.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue Banff AB
  - related nodes: book-ahead, itineraries, gondola, bow-falls, lake-minnewanka, lake-louise-moraine-lake, johnston-canyon, restaurants
  - source count: 4
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### paid_attraction

- `banff.gondola` -> `/banff/gondola/`
  - title: Banff Gondola
  - visitor need: Tickets, map, how to get there, summit views, food, washrooms, weather, and what to bring.
  - map query: Banff Gondola 100 Mountain Avenue
  - related nodes: book-ahead, transit, hot-springs, family-accessibility, photo-story
  - source count: 3
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.
- `banff.hot-springs` -> `/banff/hot-springs/`
  - title: Banff Upper Hot Springs
  - visitor need: How to fit Banff Upper Hot Springs into a Banff day: first-come entry, Route 1, gondola pairing, park pass, towels/swimsuits/lockers, health rules, kids, weather, and evening plans.
  - map query: Banff Upper Hot Springs
  - related nodes: book-ahead, gondola, transit, family-accessibility
  - source count: 6
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### parking_decision

- `banff.parking` -> `/banff/parking/`
  - title: Banff Parking
  - visitor need: Where to park in Banff by visitor need: train station public parking, Bear Street Parkade, short downtown errands, hotel or restaurant plans, accessibility needs, payment rules, and what to do if parking fails.
  - map query: Banff Train Station Public Parking 327 Railway Avenue
  - related nodes: book-ahead, parking-tickets, park-pass, restaurants, downtown-shopping, washrooms
  - source count: 4
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### pharmacy_first_aid_service

- `banff.pharmacy-first-aid` -> `/banff/pharmacy-first-aid/`
  - title: Banff Pharmacy and First-Aid Supplies
  - visitor need: Where pharmacy, lost medication, basic first-aid, sunscreen, blister care, child medicine, and pharmacist/811 decisions fit into a Banff day.
  - map query: Cascade Plaza Rexall Drug Store 317 Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: medical-help, groceries, family-accessibility, emergency-alerts, easy-walks
  - source count: 4
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### problem_router

- `banff.unexpected-problems` -> `/banff/unexpected-problems/`
  - title: Unexpected Problems in Banff
  - visitor need: A practical Banff triage page for problems visitors rarely plan for: medical help, parking ticket payment/review, provincial ticket routing, washrooms, garbage, bottle returns, lost property, emergency alerts, road problems, wildlife reports, transit fallback, and official help.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: medical-help, parking-tickets, washrooms, waste-recycling, emergency-alerts, visitor-centre, transit
  - source count: 13
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### public_service

- `banff.washrooms` -> `/banff/washrooms/`
  - title: Banff Public Washrooms
  - visitor need: Where to find public washrooms in Banff by visitor zone: downtown, Central Park, train station, gondola, and lake-drive areas.
  - map query: Banff Central Park public washrooms
  - related nodes: family-accessibility, parking, downtown-shopping, restaurants
  - source count: 6
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### regional_day_trip_decision

- `banff.lake-louise-moraine-lake` -> `/banff/lake-louise-moraine-lake/`
  - title: Lake Louise and Moraine Lake from Banff
  - visitor need: How to plan Lake Louise and Moraine Lake from Banff: driving, Roam Route 8X, Parks Canada shuttles, reservations, parking risk, timing, backup plans, and photo-story stops.
  - map query: Lake Louise Lakeshore and Moraine Lake from Banff AB
  - related nodes: book-ahead, getting-here, itineraries, transit, parking, where-to-stay, scenic-drives, johnston-canyon, photo-story, emergency-alerts
  - source count: 8
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### regional_hike_decision

- `banff.johnston-canyon` -> `/banff/johnston-canyon/`
  - title: Johnston Canyon from Banff
  - visitor need: How to plan Johnston Canyon from Banff: Lower Falls, Upper Falls, Ink Pots, Bow Valley Parkway access, parking risk, Roam Route 9, strollers, winter traction, and photo-story timing.
  - map query: Johnston Canyon Day-use Area Bow Valley Parkway
  - related nodes: book-ahead, itineraries, transit, scenic-drives, easy-walks, family-accessibility, photo-story, emergency-alerts, lake-louise-moraine-lake
  - source count: 6
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### route_decision

- `banff.scenic-drives` -> `/banff/scenic-drives/`
  - title: Banff Scenic Drives
  - visitor need: How to choose Banff scenic drives by visitor need: Lake Minnewanka Loop, Vermilion Lakes, Mount Norquay viewpoint, Bow Valley Parkway, closures, wildlife stops, washrooms, food gaps, and photo-story beats.
  - map query: Lake Minnewanka Scenic Drive Banff
  - related nodes: lake-minnewanka, water-play, transit, parking, washrooms, groceries, waste-recycling, emergency-alerts, surprise-corner, bow-falls, photo-story, lake-louise-moraine-lake, johnston-canyon
  - source count: 9
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### rule_service

- `banff.park-pass` -> `/banff/park-pass/`
  - title: Banff Park Pass
  - visitor need: Why visitors need a Banff National Park entry pass, when through-traffic does not need one, where to buy it, what it costs, and why it is separate from town parking and attraction tickets.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: book-ahead, visitor-centre, parking, parking-tickets
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### safety_alert_system

- `banff.emergency-alerts` -> `/banff/emergency-alerts/`
  - title: Banff Alerts, Safety, and Road Problems
  - visitor need: What to check when Banff plans change because of emergency alerts, road conditions, wildfire smoke, wildlife encounters, closures, police/lost-property issues, or low-signal areas.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: unexpected-problems, medical-help, visitor-centre, transit, scenic-drives, lake-minnewanka
  - source count: 13
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### scenic_stop

- `banff.bow-falls` -> `/banff/bow-falls/`
  - title: Bow Falls and Bow River Short Stop
  - visitor need: How to use Bow Falls as a low-effort Banff scenic stop with parking, walking, photos, Fairmont area context, washroom planning, and safety.
  - map query: Bow Falls Banff
  - related nodes: surprise-corner, easy-walks, photo-story
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### service

- `banff.visitor-centre` -> `/banff/visitor-centre/`
  - title: Banff Visitor Centre
  - visitor need: When to use the Banff Visitor Centre for park passes, current conditions, maps, brochures, permits, local expert help, and same-day itinerary repair.
  - map query: Banff Visitor Centre 224 Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: park-pass, parking, washrooms, itineraries
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### service_decision

- `banff.bike-rentals` -> `/banff/bike-rentals/`
  - title: Banff Bike Rentals and Ride Choices
  - visitor need: How to decide whether to rent a bike in Banff, ride around town, connect to the Legacy Trail, use e-bikes, ride with kids, and solve return logistics.
  - map query: bike rentals Banff AB
  - related nodes: transit, parking, legacy-trail, photo-story
  - source count: 12
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### town_area

- `banff.downtown-shopping` -> `/banff/downtown-shopping/`
  - title: Downtown Banff Shopping Walk
  - visitor need: How to use downtown Banff as a first-hour visitor node: park once, get oriented, find washrooms and water, shop Banff Avenue and Bear Street, buy forgotten gear, choose food, and create a map-story opening chapter.
  - map query: Cascade Shops Banff Avenue
  - related nodes: restaurants, food-decisions, washrooms, groceries
  - source count: 8
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### transport

- `banff.transit` -> `/banff/transit/`
  - title: Banff Transit Without Guesswork
  - visitor need: How to use Roam Transit for Banff downtown, gondola, hot springs, Lake Minnewanka, Cave and Basin, and Canmore connections.
  - map query: Banff High School Transit Hub
  - related nodes: book-ahead, itineraries, gondola, hot-springs, lake-minnewanka, lake-louise-moraine-lake, johnston-canyon, bike-rentals
  - source count: 10
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### viewpoint

- `banff.surprise-corner` -> `/banff/surprise-corner/`
  - title: Surprise Corner and Fairmont Viewpoint
  - visitor need: How to use Surprise Corner as a quick Banff viewpoint for Fairmont Banff Springs, Bow River, photos, driving routes, and short-stop planning.
  - map query: Surprise Corner Viewpoint Banff
  - related nodes: bow-falls, scenic-drives, photo-story
  - source count: 5
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### walking_decision

- `banff.easy-walks` -> `/banff/easy-walks/`
  - title: Easy Banff Walks
  - visitor need: Low-effort Banff walks for families, first-time visitors, rainy breaks, and photo-story moments.
  - map query: Banff Central Park Banff AB
  - related nodes: washrooms, bow-falls, cave-and-basin, downtown-shopping
  - source count: 7
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

### water_decision

- `banff.water-play` -> `/banff/water-play/`
  - title: Water and Lake Time Near Banff
  - visitor need: How to choose Banff water stops: Lake Minnewanka, Johnson Lake, Two Jack Lake, Cascade Ponds, Bow River walks, swimming, paddling rules, transit, parking, washrooms, and safety.
  - map query: Lake Minnewanka Two Jack Lake Johnson Lake Banff
  - related nodes: lake-minnewanka, transit, washrooms, groceries, waste-recycling, pharmacy-first-aid, scenic-drives, photo-story
  - source count: 9
  - trust: L3 editorial synthesis with official/primary source links; verify changing facts at source.

## Contribution And Learning Loop

1. Capture the visitor question, failed search, uploaded photo clue, route correction, or business answer.
2. Attach it to a place node, route segment, service node, attraction node, food node, or emergency/civic node.
3. Classify it as official, editorial synthesis, user-reported, visual aggregate, or unresolved question.
4. If it affects hours, price, law, safety, medical, ticket, road, parking, or transit decisions, verify against a primary source before promotion.
5. If other users confirm the same practical detail, raise confidence while keeping the user-reported label visible.
6. If the information becomes stale, conflicts with an official source, or cannot be verified, demote it or route users to the official source.

## AI Answering Contract

1. Start with the visitor's job, not an attraction ranking.
2. Route broad questions through the memory tree to the relevant child nodes.
3. Use direct answers from the node page, but cite primary sources for changing facts.
4. When the user asks a missing question, treat it as a new `search_need_or_question` memory candidate.
5. Do not present user-reported or photo-inferred knowledge as official.
6. When enough visitor behavior shows a missing node, add a new child page and connect it to facts, llms, structured data, place-twin, sitemap, and this memory tree.