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.
Education
The Department of Built Environment offers education at the bachelor's, master's and doctoral level.
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

Six of nine planetary boundaries now exceeded
A new study updates the planetary boundary framework
Register for training in research data management and open science
New topics included! Registrations for autumn 2023 are open.
A finer picture of global migration reveals complex patterns
New research shows that socio-economic factors play a larger role than climate
Significant new funding to investigate the impacts of human actions on the water cycle worldwide
Researcher Miina Porkka's ERC-funded research project AQUAGUARD investigates how human actions modify the water cycle and how these changes affect life on Earth.Events

School of Engineering Operations Development workshop
You are invited to share your thoughts on how we can further improve our operations, organization, and culture at the School of Engineering!
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.
Introduction to Research Data Management, Oct 3, 2023
Get to know the basics of RDM with Data Agent Dr. Essi Viitanen from Research Services.
Data Management Plans: Online workshop for early-career researchers, Oct 4, 2023
Learn about DMPs with Information Specialist Lucie Hradecká and Staff Scientist & Data Agent Dr. Enrico Glerean.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

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