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
Training available in AI use, research data management, open science + more – register now!
New topics included! Registrations for autumn 2026 are open.
Funding available for collaboration with the USA
Aalto University and the University of Washington are welcoming joint proposals for ambitious and impactful initiatives strengthening collaboration between researchers based at Aalto University and UW. Funding call is open until November 9th.
Your home’s energy performance is already affecting your mortgage – soon climate risk will too
European banks are already taking into account energy performance when they make loan offers, finds a new study.
Zhengmao Li selected as visiting professor at TU Graz
The two-month visit will bring Aalto and Graz University of Technology’s hydrogen research communities closer together through teaching, seminars and new research opportunities.Events
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
AI in research work, Oct 22, 2026
Learn about generative artificial intelligence in research work with Data Agents Dr. Enrico Glerean, Dr. Pedro Silva, and Dr. Emrecan Gulay
Public defence, Water and Environmental Engineering, MSc (Tech) Thomas Banafa
Who really has a say in Finnish water governance? Network analysis shows influence and responsibility do not always follow formal position.
AI agents unveiled – How AI agents work behind the scenes, Oct 27, 2026
Everything you wanted to know about AI agents and never dared to ask, with RSE Simo Tuomisto.Contact information: Department of Built Environment
Find contact details for the Department of Built Environment.
