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
Funding for impact assessment research concerning the Helsinki Capital region available
Funding call of the Urban Impact project (Kaupunkivaikutus) is open until 11. October 2026.
Unite! Seed Fund 2026 – Aalto involved in eight projects
From the 2026 Seed Fund call, 22 proposals were selected for funding. Aalto is involved in eight of these projects and coordinates one.
Experiment with AI safely – here’s how to get started
AI is advancing rapidly. Experiment boldly, but responsibly.
The World Planning Schools Congress 2026 brought together more than 1500 participants in Espoo and Helsinki
The sixth World Planning Schools Conference took place in July 2026 hosted jointly by Aalto University, University of Helsinki, and Tampere University.Events
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
Urban Impact coffee event: Research perspectives on infill development
Welcome to the first Urban Impact coffee event of the autumn. The event is held in Finnish.
Research funding seminar series, part 1/2: Major national funding instruments for research projects, 15.09.2026
Aalto University Research Services organizes a seminar on major national funding instruments, including the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland and major Finnish foundations.
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.Contact information: Department of Built Environment
Find contact details for the Department of Built Environment.
