Department of Built Environment

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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.

Traffic in Mannerheimintie, photo Aalto University/Annamari Tolonen

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.

Aalto Research groups

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.

Real Estate Economics

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.

View from the plane used in remote sensing.

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.

Henkilö tekemässä laserskannausta

DIWA – Digital Waters Flagship Programme

Promoting sustainable development by linking digital solutions to water resource management.

Read more
Digitaaliset vedet -lippulaiva

Education

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

News

Aalto yellow pen
For Aalto community Research & Art Published:

New open access agreement with The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)

Aalto University has signed a new open access agreement with ASME.
Tiny plant with text aside Unite! Seed Fund 2024
Awards and Recognition, Cooperation Published:

Unite! Seed Fund 2024 awards funding to three collaborative teaching projects involving Aalto

The Unite! Seed Fund aims to stimulate and support bottom-up proposals by teachers, researchers and students for collaborative activities.
Shaking up tech 2023
Campus, Research & Art, Studies Published:

Shaking up Tech welcomes high school students to campuses in January

The keynote speaker this time is neuroscientist Minna Huotilainen. The purpose of the event is to introduce the field of technology to underrepresented groups.
Aalto University campus. Photo by Mikko Raskinen
Research & Art Published:

Helsinki Capital Region Research Collaboration: Research funding for Impact Assessment Research for the years 2024-2028

The City of Helsinki, the City of Espoo, the City of Vantaa and the University of Helsinki and Aalto University have agreed to implement a scientific cooperation for the development of the Helsinki Capital Region in 2024-2028. Funding is now available for the period 2025-2027.

Events

Artificial intelligence, medical decision making and research ethics
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

Artificial Intelligence, Medical Decision Making and Research Ethics, Oct 31, 2024

Learn about artificial intelligence, medical decision making, and research ethics with Professor Riitta Salmelin.
AI in research work
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

AI in Research Work, Nov 4, 2024

Learn about artificial intelligence in research work with Data Agents Dr. Pedro Silva and Dr. Enrico Glerean.
Research funding seminar series, part 2/3: Major national funding instruments for research projects
For Aalto community Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Training to support research

Research funding seminar series, part 2/3: Major national funding instruments for research projects, 6.11.2024

Aalto University Research Services organizes a seminar introducing major national funding instruments, including the Research Council of Finland, Business Finland and major Finnish foundations.
Ask a Data Agent, weekly RDM support hour, 1-2 PM on Zoom
For Aalto community Support for teams, Training to support research

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.

Contact information: Department of Built Environment

Find contact details for the Department of Built Environment.

Find staff members
Environmental Hydraulics Flow Channel

Where to find us

Otakaari 4

Mechanical engineering 1, K1

Otakaari 4

Tietotie 1 E

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

Vesihuoltotekniikka

Tietotie 1

Marine Technology, Aalto Ice and Wave Tank

Tietotie 1 main entrance

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