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.
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.
DIWA – Digital Waters Flagship Programme
Promoting sustainable development by linking digital solutions to water resource management.
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
Apply now: Unite! Visiting Professorship Program at TU Darmstadt
TuDa is looking for experienced postdocs as visiting professors for the winter semester 2025/2026.
Business Finland Rise to Challenge call: Aalto internal deadline for “Intention to Apply” 10.2.2025
Business Finland's new Rise to Challenge call will close on the 31st of March 2025. The Aalto internal deadline is on the 10th of February 2025 by which an “Intention to Apply” must be submitted internally (see below).
From Satellite Positioning to 3D Modeling – Society Benefits from the Collaboration Between Aalto and NLS
The collaboration between Aalto University and the National Land Survey of Finland (NLS) is exceptionally close, extensive, and long-term.
Four new Professors appointed in the School of Engineering
Professors of Practice Katja Tähtinen and Assistant Professors Jan Akmal, Magda Posani, and Jenni Partanen were appointed to the career path of professors during August-October 2024.Events
Public defence in Water and Environmental Engineering, M.Sc. Maija Jylhä-Ollila
Reseach at Iso Tiilijärvi strengthens the understanding of managed aquifer recharge as a sustainable solution in drinking water production
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
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.) Ville-Veikko Paunu
New methods for spatial distribution of air pollution emissionsAalto AI Talks: AI Act, Ethics, and Literacy 4.2.2025
Learn about AI in a university context: the EU AI Act, AI in teaching, ethical side of AI and AI for innovation.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
Datavägen 1 E
Vatten- och miljöteknik, Vattenbyggnaden, mån–fre 8.00–15.45
Tietotie 1
Marine Technology, Aalto Ice and Wave Tank
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