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
Open access article quotas estimated to run out during autumn 2026
Elsevier, Wiley, Taylor & Francis, and Emerald article quotas are estimated to run out during autumn 2026.
Future of Elsevier Read & Publish agreement: What researchers need to know
National agreement with Elsevier is currently valid until the end of 2026.
E-scooters are here to stay – first global study maps the state of shared micromobility
Shared e-scooters, city bikes and other small vehicles have evolved from niche experiments into a standard part of urban transport worldwide. Rather than treating micromobility as a passing trend, public authorities should take an active role in shaping its development, researchers say.
Airborne laser scanning reveals where pine marten, stoat and least weasel thrive in pioneering study
Mapping habitats helps to protect mustelids whose populations have shrunk significantly across Finland.Events
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships Networking Event, 11.6.2026
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funding for Postdoctoral Fellowships targets postdoctoral researchers with up to 8 years of research experience after their doctoral degree who would like to move within or to Europe and beyond to carry out research. The researcher applies for funding in cooperation with their host organisation.
Aalto Data Agents' weekly support hour on Zoom
Join and ask anything about research data management and open science.
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.
