Department of Built Environment
Department of Built Environment
The Department of Built Environment looks for practical solutions for a society whose functioning requires sustainable asset management, efficient water and waste management, sufficient water resources, reliable and safe transportation as well as valid geographic data. Intelligent spatial planning enables built environments that best serve the needs of habitation, business and mobility.
Research
The research and education of the Department of Built Environment focus on fields that are continuously growing in societal importance. Research problems involve the great challenges facing today’s society, including population growth, urbanisation, climate change, globalisation, digitalisation and the increasing use of natural resources.
The Department of Built Environment is home to four research groups – Geoinformatics, Real Estate Economics, Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering and Water and Environmental Engineering – and a partner in MeMo, the Research Institute of Measuring and Modelling for The Built Environment.
DIWA – Digital Waters Flagship Programme
Promoting sustainable development by linking digital solutions to water resource management.
Education
The Department of Built Environment offers education on leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees.
See our study options and hear from some of our alumni below.
Fields of study:
- Sustainable Communities
- Real Estate Economics and Geoinformatics
The department's bachelor's-degree education is offered in Finnish and Swedish in the Bachelor's Programme in Engineering.
Master's-level education is available in Aalto University master's programmes as well as co-operative and international programmes.
Aalto University programmes:
- Geoinformatics
- Real Estate Economics
- Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering
- Water and Environmental Engineering
Co-operative and international programmes:
Doctoral studies at the Department of Built Environment are part of the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Engineering.
News
Study: Helsinki's land rent increases showed up in housing prices – but only after about a decade
Researchers tracked Helsinki apartments in blocks of flats whose land lease contracts were renewed in 2021.
University Lecturer, Teemu Kokkonen recognised with Unite! award
Kokkonen receives a Unite! award for his contributions to the ‘Digital Solutions for Sustainable Water Management’ project.
Peatlands in the Northern Hemisphere are changing – satellite study reveals clear regional differences
The Northern Hemisphere’s peatlands are being reshaped not just by heat, but by moisture, says a unique study––the first to span two decades. Many areas have switched from greening to decline in the 2010s.
Training available in AI use, research data management, open science + more – register now!
New topics included! Registrations for autumn 2026 are open.Events
AI Training 16 Nov: Explore and try out MyCourses AI Assistant (in English)
Explore the new MyCourses AI Assistant and try how you can create an AI-based support chat for your course workspace. The event includes a short introduction of approximately 15 minutes, followed by a supported hands-on opportunity to test the tool with experts. The tool works within MyCourses and can be grounded in course or assignment materials uploaded by the teacher and guided by teacher-defined instructions.
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
Introduction to ACRIS, 24.11.2026
Online session on ACRIS, annual publication reporting, and open access publishing.
Event Support Network – Theme: Event safety and security (external link)
Event Support Network – November 2026Contact information: Department of Built Environment
Find contact details for the Department of Built Environment.
