How Granite Construction uses automated machinery on site
Summary
Granite Construction is leveraging automated machinery to enhance efficiency and safety on job sites, as explained by construction technology manager Aaron McClellan.
Why It Matters
As the construction industry faces labor shortages and safety concerns, the integration of autonomous machinery presents a viable solution to improve operational efficiency and worker safety. This article highlights how Granite Construction is navigating these challenges through technology.
Key Takeaways
- Granite Construction is retrofitting existing machines with autonomous technology to improve efficiency.
- Supervised autonomous equipment allows skilled operators to focus on critical tasks, enhancing productivity.
- The use of autonomous machinery can improve safety by removing operators from high-risk environments.
An article from Q&A How Granite Construction uses automated machinery on site Aaron McClellan, construction technology manager for the infrastructure builder, emphasized connecting with workers on how technology intersects with their jobs. Published Oct. 8, 2025 Matthew Thibault Reporter Share Copy link Email LinkedIn X/Twitter Facebook Print License Add us on Google An autonomous roller and striping robot at the Tucson Airport in Tucson, Ariz. Granite Construction started work on the project in 2022. Permission granted by Granite Construction Listen to the article 5 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Workers can have an idea of when they’ll need to retire. But autonomous machinery might push that deadline out, a Granite Construction tech lead says. Aaron McClellan, construction technology manager for the Watsonville, California-based infrastructure builder, is familiar with the use of the technology. Granite has introduced supervised autonomous equipment, where it has retrofitted existing machines, on the Tucson International Airport in Tucson, Arizona, and on a New Mexico jobsite. The retrofit kits on those projects came from Bluelight Machines, based in Pittsburgh, which features remote control from any mobile or desktop device and regular software and feature updates delivered over-the-air, per the company’s website. Here, McClellan talks with Construction Dive about implementing autonomous equipment, the benefits the company has...
