Granite Construction’s commitment to innovation in infrastructure has earned national recognition with its AI-driven training tool, the Granite Asphalt Guru, winning the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) Innovation of the Year Award. The announcement was made during the AGC Annual Convention in Columbus, Ohio, where finalists Daniel Mekis and Olivia McNary showcased the platform’s transformative potential to a panel of 11 judges.

Developed as an internal solution to retain and share decades of paving expertise, the Asphalt Guru utilizes an extensive knowledge base—including more than 900 pages of interview transcripts, thousands of documents, and external sources such as OSHA incident reports, DOT standards, and relevant industry articles. The platform is designed to deliver dynamic, interactive support to field crews and office staff alike, providing clear answers to technical inquiries and simplifying complex procedures.

More than 400 Granite employees have already interacted with the platform, with over 1,000 questions answered since its launch. Integrated into the company’s Asphalt Basics E-Learning program and now accessible via mobile devices on-site, the tool bridges a significant gap in real-time training and accessibility.

“This award reflects Granite’s commitment to innovation and empowering our teams,” said Olivia McNary, Granite Data Analyst and IT Business Partner.

Granite CI Project Manager Daniel Mekis, who co-presented the tool, emphasized the broader value of the initiative. “It’s an honor to be recognized for a tool that preserves the expertise of our paving professionals,” Mekis said. “Their knowledge and experience are intangible assets for the company; finding a way to preserve and share it with future generations of construction professionals will provide value for decades.”

The Asphalt Guru stands as a testament to how artificial intelligence and construction can converge to elevate safety, consistency, and learning across the workforce. In an industry where on-the-job experience is traditionally passed down through hands-on mentoring, Granite’s platform marks a major step in digital transformation.

For more information about the AGC Innovation Awards, visit AGC Innovation Awards.

Originally reported by Business Wire.