The use of solar panels in road pavements represents an innovative approach to integrating renewable energy sources, specifically solar energy, into everyday infrastructure. This paper explores the key aspects of this technology, including its advantages, disadvantages, and potential for future development. The benefits include improving energy efficiency and reducing dependence on fossil fuels, as well as the ability to generate electricity directly at the point of use, which can contribute to lowering energy costs. Solar panels in road pavements can also help reduce air pollution and improve environmental standards in urban areas. The disadvantages involve challenges such as high installation and maintenance costs, the need for regular cleaning of the panels due to dirt and debris accumulation, and limited efficiency under poor weather conditions or at night. Additionally, there is a need for infrastructure adaptation and possible aesthetic or structural obstacles in implementation. The future of applying solar panels in road pavements looks promising, with opportunities for technology advancement, cost reduction, and increased energy efficiency. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current application of solar panels in road pavements, highlights existing challenges, and offers recommendations for future research and development in this exciting field of renewable energy technology.

When designing roads over valleys and ravines, we are often in a dilemma about what to build, high embankments or viaducts. Ensuring economy, traffic safety, embankment and viaduct safety, comfort, environmental protection as well as shorter construction time are the basic parameters on the basis of which the decision on the construction of high embankments or viaducts is made. The subject of research in this paper is to find the best (optimal) solution when making a decision on what to design, a high embankment or viaduct. The criteria for designing high embankments or viaducts were analysed and their optimization was carried out. The results of design optimization are presented taking into account the criteria for determining the optimal solution (functionality, durability, economy, aesthetics, ecology and construction time). The results of the research are presented analytically and graphically.

Road-embankment maintenance decisions are often based on fragmented design, analytical, and monitoring information, limiting consistent condition assessment and timely intervention prioritization. This study develops a Digital-Twin-ready conceptual framework by integrating a structured database, analytical condition assessment, and fuzzy decision support. The road-embankment condition index (RECI) combines normalized settlement, static-stability, and seismic-stability indicators, while the IPI integrates the RECI with condition trends and data reliability. The framework was numerically demonstrated using documented computational data for three embankments along the E-863 Lučani–Požega motorway section. Because monitoring time series were unavailable, the trend was treated as a controlled scenario input. Changing trends from stable to rapidly deteriorating increased the intervention priority by two classes in all cases when the RECI and reliability were held constant. Reduced reliability also increased the IPI under less favorable condition-trend combinations. Variations of ±10% in RECI weights and coordinated ±5% variations in fuzzy membership parameters and IPI boundaries produced no classification changes, demonstrating local robustness within the tested ranges. The framework provides a transparent basis for condition-based maintenance planning and future integration of monitoring data, automated trend determination, and empirical calibration, thereby supporting more consistent, sustainable, and resilient road-infrastructure management.