Scrape Northgate dates page

lib/uk_planning_scraper/application.rb

@@ -1,22 +1,79 @@
 module UKPlanningScraper
   class Application
+    # Short authority name, eg Camden.
     attr_accessor :authority_name
+    
+    # The authority's own reference number for this application.
     attr_accessor :council_reference
+    
+    # Date the application was received by the authority.
     attr_accessor :date_received
+    
+    # Date the application was declared valid by the authority.
     attr_accessor :date_validated
+    
+    # The authority's own description of the application's current status.
+    # There is no nationally-mandated scheme for these values, so they vary
+    # according to local custom.
     attr_accessor :status
+
+    # The datetime at which the application data was scraped from the
+    # authority's website.
     attr_accessor :scraped_at
+    
+    # The URL of the main details page for this application.
     attr_accessor :info_url
+    
+    # The site address for the application.
     attr_accessor :address
+    
+    # The applicant's own description of the proposal.
     attr_accessor :description
+    
+    # The number of documents associated with this application.
+    # According to local custom, this may include representations by official
+    # consultees and the public.
+    # Take care when using this as a proxy for the complexity of the application
+    # or the scale of the public response to it.
     attr_accessor :documents_count
+    
+    # The URL on the authority's website where the application's documents are.
     attr_accessor :documents_url
+    
+    # Used or not according to local custom. Some authorities use it for the
+    # Planning Portal reference number for the application.
     attr_accessor :alternative_reference
+    
+    # The authority's own description of the decision when made.
+    # There is no nationally-mandated standard for these codes and custom or
+    # consistency may vary even within an authority.
     attr_accessor :decision
+    
+    # The date the authority made the decision.
+    # This is a reliable proxy for which applications have been decided.
     attr_accessor :date_decision
+    
+    # 
     attr_accessor :appeal_status
+    
     attr_accessor :appeal_decision
 
+    # Final day of the statutory notification/consultation period for this
+    # application.
+    # If there is more than one notification then this will be used
+    # according to local custom
+    attr_accessor :consultation_end_date
+    
+    # Final day of the statutory determination period for this application.
+    # If the authority and applicant agree an extension of time this may be
+    # changed according to local custom.
+    attr_accessor :statutory_due_date
+    
+    # Final day of an agreed extension of the determination period for this
+    # application.
+    # This may change if there are subsequent extensions.
+    attr_accessor :extended_expiry_date
+
     def to_hash
       {
         scraped_at: @scraped_at,
@@ -34,7 +91,10 @@ module UKPlanningScraper
         documents_url: @documents_url,
         alternative_reference: @alternative_reference,
         appeal_status: @appeal_status,
-        appeal_decision: @appeal_decision
+        appeal_decision: @appeal_decision,
+        consultation_end_date: @consultation_end_date,
+        statutory_due_date: @statutory_due_date,
+        extended_expiry_date: @extended_expiry_date
       }
     end
     

lib/uk_planning_scraper/authority_scrape_params.rb

@@ -73,6 +73,15 @@ module UKPlanningScraper
       self
     end
 
+    def include_dates
+      unless system == 'northgate'
+        raise NoMethodError.new("include_dates is only implemented for Northgate. This authority (#{@name}) is #{system.capitalize}.")
+      end
+      
+      @scrape_params[:include_dates] = true
+      self
+    end
+
     def application_type(s)
       unless system == 'idox'
         raise NoMethodError.new("application_type is only implemented for \

lib/uk_planning_scraper/northgate.rb

@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@ module UKPlanningScraper
   class Authority
     private
     def scrape_northgate(params, options)
-      puts "Using Northgate scraper."
+      logger = Logger.new($stdout)
+      logger.level = Logger::DEBUG
+
+      logger.info "Using Northgate scraper."
+      logger.info "Will also scrape dates page." if params[:include_dates]
+      
       base_url = @url.match(/(https?:\/\/.+?)\//)[1]
       
       # Remove 'generalsearch.aspx' from the end and add '/Generic/' - case sensitive?
@@ -15,8 +20,6 @@ module UKPlanningScraper
       apps = []
 
       $stdout.sync = true # Flush output buffer after every write so log messages appear immediately.
-      logger = Logger.new($stdout)
-      logger.level = Logger::DEBUG
 
       date_regex = /\d{2}-\d{2}-\d{4}/
 
@@ -133,6 +136,46 @@ module UKPlanningScraper
           apps << app
         end
       end
+      
+      if params[:include_dates]
+        apps.each do |app|
+          sleep options[:delay]
+          
+          # Do we need to return the dates_url as part of the Application object? Seems unnecessary.
+          dates_url = app.info_url.sub("PLDetails", "PLDetailsDates")
+          agent = Mechanize.new
+          # agent.agent.http.verify_mode = OpenSSL::SSL::VERIFY_NONE
+          logger.info "Getting dates page for application #{app.council_reference}: #{dates_url}"
+          page = agent.get(dates_url) # load the search form page
+
+          if page.code == '200'
+            page.search(".dataview .list li").each do |element|
+              if bits = element.inner_html.match(/<span>(.+)<\/span>.*?(\d{2}-\d{2}-\d{4})/)
+                # Some labels have tab characters (\t) in them
+                label = bits[1].strip.downcase.sub(/\s+/, ' ')
+                value =  Date.strptime(bits[2], '%d-%m-%Y')
+                
+                case label
+                when 'consultation expiry' # eg Islington, Merton
+                  app.consultation_end_date = value
+                when 'public consultation period ends' # eg Birmingham
+                  app.consultation_end_date = value
+                  
+                when 'stat cons expiry date' # eg Merton
+                  app.statutory_due_date = value
+                when 'statutory expiry date' # eg Birmingham
+                  app.statutory_due_date = value
+                
+                when 'extended expiry' # eg Merton, Islington
+                    app.extended_expiry_date = value
+                end
+              end
+            end
+            
+          end
+        end
+      end
+    
       apps
     end
   end