> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.taiyo.ai/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# What are tools and agents in ConstructChat?

ConstructChat goes beyond a simple chatbot.
It can call **tools** and **agents** to perform specialized actions on top of Taiyō’s data mesh and external sources.

## 1. What are tools?
A **tool** is a focused capability that ConstructChat can call to:
* Query structured data (projects, entities, bids, financials, risks, etc.)
* Search specific knowledge sources (news, ASCE, Scholar, SEC, FCA, internal reports)
* Analyze URLs, PDFs, satellite data, and more
You can usually invoke a tool by:
* **Typing its alias** followed by your request,
e.g.
`CanvasSearch: list mass transit projects planned in California`
* Or by **asking in natural language**, and ConstructChat will decide which tool(s) to call.
Below is a guide to all current tools, grouped by category, with descriptions and example prompts.

## 2. Canvas Tools (Project & Market Intelligence)
These tools query Taiyō’s **internal project and market data**.
### 2.1 Canvas search
**Alias:** `CanvasSearch`
**What it does:**
Search Taiyō internal records and projects (pipeline, tenders, awards, etc.) using structured filters like geography, sector, and delivery model.
**Best for:**
* Finding specific types of projects
* Building project lists for BD, strategy, or research
**Example prompts:**
* `CanvasSearch: list all mass transit projects planned in California`
* `CanvasSearch: show all PPP (Public-Private Partnership) road projects in Texas`
* `CanvasSearch: latest procurement for EV charging tenders in Michigan`

### 2.2 Canvas market breakdown
**Alias:** `CanvasMarketBreakdown`
**What it does:**
Get **market breakdown and analysis** based on Taiyō’s project and entity data (market share, key players, agencies, etc.).
**Best for:**
* Market entry research
* Competitive and client intelligence
**Example prompts:**
* `CanvasMarketBreakdown: search for top EPCs in LATAM mass transit projects`
* `CanvasMarketBreakdown: list top 10 contractors by market share in Middle East transport projects`
* `CanvasMarketBreakdown: map main government agencies responsible for energy procurement in India`

### 2.3 Finfra search
**Alias:** `FinfraSearch`
**What it does:**
Get data about **financial transactions** related to infrastructure, especially **M&A and deals**.
**Best for:**
* Tracking deals and consolidations
* Understanding investor and sponsor activity
**Example prompts:**
* `FinfraSearch: recent M&A in renewable energy infrastructure by public companies`

### 2.4 Canvas bid tabs
**Alias:** `CanvasBidTabs`
**What it does:**
Get data about **US bid tabulations** (who bid what, and who won).
**Best for:**
* Competitor pricing / win patterns
* Understanding DOT contractor performance
**Example prompts:**
* `CanvasBidTabs: top contractors by awarded road projects in Ohio 2024`
* `CanvasBidTabs: DOT contractor bid wins in Florida since Jan 2024`

## 3. Search Tools (News & Technical Knowledge)
These tools search external sources (news, web, ASCE, Scholar).
### 3.1 Search news
**Alias:** `SearchNews`
**What it does:**
Retrieve and analyze the **latest news, regulatory changes, project announcements, deal flow**, and other developments globally, nationally, or locally.
**Best for:**
* Real-time updates not yet in structured databases
* Policy, regulation, and market news
**Example prompts:**
* `SearchNews: latest news on U.S. federal infrastructure allocations Q4 2025`
* `SearchNews: partner conflicts in NEOM Saudi giga-project`
* `SearchNews: recent infrastructure policy updates affecting construction companies`

### 3.2 Search web
**Alias:** `SearchWeb`
**What it does:**
Search the **open web** for general information.
**Best for:**
* Broader context or background
* Capturing information beyond infrastructure data
**Example prompts:**
* `SearchWeb: summarize top concerns raised in community consultations for hydropower projects in Southeast Asia`
* `SearchWeb: summarize top 10 recent AI/digital tech adoptions in infrastructure projects globally`
* `SearchWeb: summarize notable cases of human error leading to megaproject delays`

### 3.3 Search ASCE
**Alias:** `SearchASCE`
**What it does:**
Search **American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)** articles, conference proceedings, and technical papers.
**Best for:**
* Peer-reviewed engineering and design guidance
* Civil / structural / geotechnical / environmental reference
**Example prompts:**
* `SearchASCE: get articles from ASCE on bridge design for seismic risk`
* `SearchASCE: best practices in water supply network upgrades`

### 3.4 Search scholar
**Alias:** `SearchScholar`
**What it does:**
Search **academic papers and scholarly articles** (general scholarly search).
**Best for:**
* Technical research
* Literature review and citations
**Example prompts:**
* `SearchScholar: geothermal power plant design guidelines`
* `SearchScholar: provide engineering research references for tunnel boring best practices`
* `SearchScholar: recent advances in green building materials for data centers`

## 4. Entity Tools (Organizations, Agencies & Networks)
These tools work with **entities**: companies, agencies, funds, etc.
### 4.1 Entity get associated contacts
**Alias:** `EntityGetContacts`
**What it does:**
Get **contacts associated with an entity** (where available).
**Best for:**
* Finding relevant people to talk to at agencies or firms
**Example prompts:**
* `EntityGetContacts: find me contacts associated with TxDOT`

### 4.2 Entity get details
**Alias:** `EntityGetDetails`
**What it does:**
Retrieve a **structured profile** of an entity using Taiyō’s Entity DataMesh plus sources like Wikidata, Wikipedia, Bloomberg, LinkedIn, etc.
**Best for:**
* Quick deep dives on contractors, EPCs, investors, funds, government agencies
**Example prompts:**
* `EntityGetDetails: tell me details about Bechtel`
* `EntityGetDetails: find top EPCs in EU and get me their details`

### 4.3 Entity get associated entities
**Alias:** `EntityGetAssociatedEntities`
**What it does:**
Get entities **linked to a given entity** via projects, contracts, or relationships.
**Best for:**
* Ecosystem mapping
* Partner / competitor networks
**Example prompts:**
* `EntityGetAssociatedEntities: what entities has AECOM been involved with?`
* `EntityGetAssociatedEntities: who are the top companies FDOT has been working with?`

## 5. SEC Filings Tools (Financial & Regulatory Disclosures)
These tools search **formal financial filings**.
### 5.1 SEC EDGAR search
**Alias:** `SecEdgarSearch`
**What it does:**
Search filings submitted to the **US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)** via EDGAR.
**Best for:**
* Fundraising, new funds, infrastructure strategies
* Deal disclosures and risk factors
**Example prompts:**
* `SecEdgarSearch: has Blackstone filed new infrastructure fund disclosures in 2024?`
* `SecEdgarSearch: scan for REITs invested in logistics infrastructure Q3 2025`
* `SecEdgarSearch: M&A filings for water asset privatizations in US Midwest 2024`

### 5.2 FCA NSM search
**Alias:** `FcaNsmSearch`
**What it does:**
Search filings on the **UK FCA NSM** (Financial Conduct Authority).
**Best for:**
* UK-based infrastructure funds and debt vehicles
**Example prompts:**
* `FcaNsmSearch: FCA filings for infrastructure debt funds in UK 2024`

## 6. Risk Tools (Macro & Risk Indicators)
### 6.1 Get Taiyō risk data
**Alias:** `GetTaiyoRiskData`
**What it does:**
Get **risk data** on topics like tariffs, PPI, CPI, labor, and major events affecting infrastructure.
**Best for:**
* Pricing and escalation assumptions
* Macro risk context for projects and portfolios
**Example prompts:**
* `GetTaiyoRiskData: analyze PPI trend for construction materials in New York State`
* `GetTaiyoRiskData: summarize recent storm events impacting Gulf Coast port assets`
* `GetTaiyoRiskData: US import tariff rates for steel rebar in 2024`

## 7. DataQnA Tools (Internal Reports & Documents)
### 7.1 QnA internal data
**Alias:** `QnaInternalData`
**What it does:**
Analyze **infrastructure industry reports** stored in Taiyō’s internal library (e.g., PJM, IEA, etc.).
**Best for:**
* Extracting insights from long technical reports
* Quickly understanding methodologies and key findings
**Example prompts:**
* `QnaInternalData: what are findings from PJM long term load forecasting report?`
* `QnaInternalData: can you provide a brief overview of PJM's methodology for long-term load forecasting?`
* `QnaInternalData: what are the findings from IEA for global electricity market in 2025?`

## 8. Browsing Tools (Live Web & URL Analysis)
### 8.1 Browse web
**Alias:** `BrowseWeb`
**What it does:**
Browse the web in real time (news sites, corporate pages, etc.) and synthesize findings.
**Best for:**
* Staying current on project announcements
* Scanning industry developments and company news
**Example prompts:**
* `BrowseWeb: browse global construction industry developments from major sources like ENR, Construction Week, and Infrastructure Journal`
* `BrowseWeb: browse through the ‘News’ section of Larsen & Toubro, GMR, or Afcons Infrastructure corporate websites and summarize any new project announcements`

### 8.2 Analyze URL
**Alias:** `AnalyzeUrl`
**What it does:**
Read and analyze the content of a **specific webpage**.
**Best for:**
* Quickly understanding dashboards and performance pages
* Turning website content into structured insight
**Example prompts:**
* `AnalyzeUrl: give me an analysis of the information on TxDOT performance results at https://www.txdot.gov/data-maps/txdot-performance-results-summary.html`

## 9. Map Tools (Earth Observation & Spatial Trends)
### 9.1 GEE timeseries data
**Alias:** `GeeTimeseriesData`
**What it does:**
Use **Google Earth Engine** to get satellite imagery–based time series (e.g., NDVI, flood risk).
**Best for:**
* Land use change
* Environmental / climate risk around infrastructure
**Example prompts:**
* `GeeTimeseriesData: Earth Engine NDVI deviation around Houston port (2010-2025)`
* `GeeTimeseriesData: how has vegetation cover changed along the Delhi-Mumbai corridor in past 5 years?`
* `GeeTimeseriesData: what is the flood risk trend near Jakarta's airport since 2000?`

## 10. ConstructChat Specialized Tools (Project Deep Dives & Bonds)
These are **specialized workflows** built right into ConstructChat.
### 10.1 Project research detailed
**Alias:** `ProjectResearchDetailed`
**What it does:**
Conduct a **detailed research report** on a specific project.
**Best for:**
* Board / IC memos
* Deep-dive project assessments
**Example prompts:**
* `ProjectResearchDetailed: give me a detailed research report on Hudson Tunnel project`
* `ProjectResearchDetailed: I want a detailed research report on K Line Northern Extension`

### 10.2 Project research basic
**Alias:** `ProjectResearchBasic`
**What it does:**
Do a **quick research and analysis** on a project (shorter, faster than detailed).
**Best for:**
* Initial screening
* Quick internal notes
**Example prompts:**
* `ProjectResearchBasic: do a research about the Sepulveda Transit Corridor project`

### 10.3 Analyze PDF
**Alias:** `AnalyzePdf`
**What it does:**
Analyze a **PDF from a URL** and summarize or extract relevant information.
**Best for:**
* Long technical / policy documents hosted online
* Turning PDF content into concise insights
**Example prompts:**
* `AnalyzePdf: summarize information from https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/brg/transportation-asset-management-plan-2022.pdf`

### 10.4 Get municipal bonds
**Alias:** `GetMunicipalBonds`
**What it does:**
Retrieve data on **municipal bonds, trades, issuers, and market activity** from EMMA (MSRB).
**Best for:**
* Understanding muni market activity around infrastructure
* Screening bonds by activity or recency
**Example prompts:**
* `GetMunicipalBonds: fetch data for the most actively traded municipal bonds`
* `GetMunicipalBonds: give me latest municipal bonds from emma.msrb.org`
* `GetMunicipalBonds: which municipal bonds had the highest trade volume this week?`

## 11. What are agents?
While **tools** perform single, focused actions, an **agent** is a **multi-step workflow** that orchestrates several tools to deliver a richer outcome.
For example, a “Market Report Generator” agent might:
1. Use **CanvasSearch** to pull relevant projects
2. Use **CanvasMarketBreakdown** to compute market share
3. Use **SearchNews** to add recent developments
4. Compile all of this into a structured report (text + tables)
Similarly, a “RiskSense”-type agent might:
* Combine **GetTaiyoRiskData**, **SearchNews**, and **GeeTimeseriesData**
* Produce an integrated view of policy, macro, and climate risks for a region or sector.
As we expand the **Tools & Agents Marketplace**, you’ll see:
* A catalog of available agents
* Clear descriptions of what each agent does
* Example prompts you can use to trigger them (or you can just describe your goal in natural language and let ConstructChat choose).

## 12. How to use tools and agents in practice
* Start with **plain English**:“Give me a list of PPP road projects in Texas and summarize the main contractors and agencies involved.”
ConstructChat will decide which tools to use.
* If you want more control, **call a tool by alias**:`CanvasSearch: PPP road projects in Texas since 2020 above $50m`
* For more complex tasks (like full market reports or risk scans), describe the **end result you want** (e.g., “a 2-page briefing for our COO”), and ConstructChat may route through an agent that chains multiple tools behind the scenes.
If you’re ever unsure which tool to use, just ask:
> “Which tools would you use to answer this question, and why?”
ConstructChat can explain which tools it plans to call and how they help.