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.

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.

Traffic in Mannerheimintie, phoɫɫ�� 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.

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.

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.

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:

Co-operative and international programmes:

Doctoral studies at the Department of Built Environment are part of the Aalto Doctoral Programme in Engineering.

See all

Cooperation Published: 19.6.2025

Apply to EIT Urban Mobility Specialist Innovation Call (1st Cut-Off DL 23 Sept 2025)

EIT Urban Mobility’s Strategic Innovation Open Call 2026-2028 just launched! The total estimated funding allocated to this Call is 60 million EUR for 3 years. The Call has multiple cut-off dates The indicative funding for the first submission cut-off is: 9 million EUR. Each project may receive up to 2 million EUR of EIT funding. EIT Urban Mobility will reimburse up to 65% of the eligible project costs, while the minimum co-funding rate for all proposals is 35%.