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
Teaching and collaborating across Europe: Aalto researchers at TU Darmstadt
Hear from Aalto researchers about their experience at TU Darmstadt.
Staff and students recognised at School of Engineering Awards 2026
Awards honoured the finest publications and doctoral theses of the year, active students and notable achievements by school personnel in the realms of education, impact, and service.
Hanaholmen’s 50th anniversary exhibition lives on online – making the history of Finnish–Swedish cooperation accessible worldwide
MeMo Institute at Aalto University has produced a virtual 3D version of the anniversary exhibition of Hanaholmen.
Elsevier open access article quota is estimated to run out in autumn 2026
Read more about the situation and its effects on open access publishingEvents
Impactful research: Introducing the new research projects funded by the Helsinki Capital Region Research Collaboration
Welcome to learn about new research projects funded by cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa. The event is organised in Finnish with one project introduction in English.
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
Learn about ethical review at Aalto University.
Marsio Presents, 15 April 2026: Creative Teaching in the Age of AI
Marsio Presents: Creative Teaching in the Age of AI is a morning event for Aalto educators interested in how AI is reshaping pedagogy. Hear short, concrete cases from colleagues on using AI in teaching, assessment, and course design. Join to gain practical ideas, discuss ethical questions, and reflect together on what meaningful teaching looks like in the age of AI.Contact information: Department of Built Environment
Find contact details for the Department of Built Environment.
