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 Modelling and Measuring for The Built Environment. The department also participates in the work of the Centre of Excellence in Laser Scanning Research, which is funded by the Academy of Finland.
Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering
Urban realities are becoming increasingly dynamic, complex and fragmented while demands for their livability, sustainability, competitiveness, and attractiveness increase. Our research connects spatial planning and transportation engineering for developing new scientific knowledge needed in systemic understanding, problem-solving, and integrative planning and policy-making beyond sectoral boundaries, aimed at achieving human-centered living environments.

Water and Environmental Engineering
Water and Environmental Engineering research at Aalto University aims to find solutions to decrease resource scarcity and to support sustainability. Our research is divided into two strategic areas: global water issues and sustainable circular economy, which are further divided into four research entities.

Real Estate Economics
Real estate economics analyses the dynamics of real estate markets from the perspectives of e.g. business, planning, technology, value formation and law. The Real Estate Economics research group at Aalto University is the only university-level research unit in Finland focusing on the broad area of real estate.

Geoinformatics
Geoinformatics at Aalto University is a truly multidisciplinary field. Our research and its applications cover a wide range of themes from human-centred to natural environments.

MeMo - Research Institute of Measuring and Modeling for the Built Environment
The goal of the Institute is to produce world-class research and development of the measurement technology in the field of construction and environmental engineering.
News

Perspectives on open data: Aalto Research Data Uncovered
Marika Tervahartiala and Kamyar Hasanzadeh took the stage to share their insights on opening geographic and visual data.
Research integrity morning
Are you conducting research in Finland? Do you know where to look for advice for the integrity and high ethical standards in research?
Land uplift protects the Finnish coast from rising sea levels, but not endlessly
A recent study calculated new projections for mean sea level rise on the Finnish coast by 2100. In the worst-case scenario, the sea level in Helsinki would rise by more than half a metre.
Two Professors of Practise appointed to the field of water engineering
Water engineering education will be strengthened by Elin Lavonen and Ilkka Miettinen who will start as Professors of Practice in May-June at the Aalto University Department of Built Environment.Events

Aalto Data Agents weekly zoom support hour
A weekly zoom room to come and ask us anything about research data and open science: data management, data storage, data analysis, data sharing, reproducibility, responsible conduct of research, data privacy, ethics.Public defence in geoinformatics, M.Sc. (Tech) Aino Keitaanniemi
The title of doctoral thesis: Improving the measurement strategies and post-processing of Simultaneous Localization and Mapping based handheld laser scanningAalto ENG Dean's Summer Event
Come spend a summer day together with your colleagues and celebrate Gary's 10-year deanship!Contact information: Department of Built Environment
Find contact details for the Department of Built Environment.

Where to find us
Otakaari 4
Mechanical engineering 1, K1

Tietotie 1 E
Water and Environmental Engineering, Water Building, Mon-Fri 8.00–15.45

Tietotie 1 C
Aalto Ice Tank, Water and Environmental Engineering
