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.
Spatial Planning and Transportation Engineering
Urban realities are becoming increasingly dynamic, complex and fragmented while demands for their liveability, 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 equitable, sustainable and attractive 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 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
Meet Hannah Hook, assistant professor of sustainable land use and transport planning
Hannah Hook explores the ways everyday travel shapes happiness and satisfaction.
The Publication Forum Steering Group: Level 3 will be abandoned, and term “Level 0” will be discontinued
The discontinuation of Level 3 will not affect the university funding calculations for the years 2025–2028.
School of Engineering Alum of the Year Mika Viljanmaa: There’s no point in developing something useless
Viljanmaa, an award-winning inventor, calls Otaniemi his professional and spiritual home.
Publishing Research Data Alongside Research Articles
Data availability statements are increasingly required by scientific journals. They include information on what data are available, where they can be found, and any applicable access termsEvents
Digital Services Act and researcher data access, Nov 20, 2025
Come join this timely talk on the Digital Services Act by Legal Counsel Maria Rehbinder.
Python for Scientific Computing 25-27/11/2025
“Python for scientific computing” is an on-line course on TwitchTV aimed to improve your scientific Python skills starting Tuesday 25th November at 10:00 (3 days, 4 hours per day). 1 ECTS available.
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
Public defence in real estate economics, M.Sc. (Tech.) Ilmari Talvitie
The aim of this dissertation is to assess the viability of buildings as climate champions in the context of urban regional development.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
