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

Two of the awardees and their robotic arm all holding colorful mugs. Aalto Open Science Award, Honorary mention.
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Aalto Open Science Award third place awardee 2023 – Intelligent Robotics Research Group with the Robotic Manipulation of Deformable Objects project

We interviewed the Intelligent Robotics Research Group with the Robotic Manipulation of Deformable Objects project, 3rd place awardees of the first Aalto Open Science Award.
Dean Kari Tammi giving a presentation.
Awards and Recognition, University Published:

A view of 2023 and cheers for its highlights at ENG Awards Gala

The annual Dean's Awards recognised worthy efforts in research, education, impact, and service.
Jokimaisema, jossa taustalla aavikkoa. Välissä kulkee tie, jossa ajaa rekka-auto.
Press releases Published:

Humans have driven the Earth’s freshwater cycle out of its stable state

New analysis shows that the global freshwater cycle has shifted far beyond pre-industrial conditions
Lara Ejtehadian, Patrick Rinke, and Ilari Lähteenmäki sitting with coffee mugs and smiling to the camera.
Awards and Recognition, Research & Art Published:

Aalto Open Science Award Winner 2023 - Aalto Materials Digitalization Platform (AMAD)

We interviewed the AMAD team, winners of the first Aalto Open Science Award.

Events

Short-course-in-grant-writing
For Aalto community Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

Short course in grant writing, 3.4.2024

Aalto Research Services organizes a seminar on writing a good funding proposal for a research project. The seminar's content is useful for any funding proposal. The seminar targets research staff.
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 zoom support hour

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.
A person dives into water.
For Aalto community Other

Radical Creatives screenings at the School of Engineering

See the new Aalto documentary at Odeion in Otaniemi!
Exploring AI analysis of qualitative data
Lectures and seminars, Staff trainings, Support for teams, Training to support research

Exploring AI analysis of qualitative data, Apr 9, 2024

Learn about the possibilities of AI in analysing qualitative data with Staff Scientist & Data Agent Dr. Enrico Glerean.

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

Konetekniikka 1, Otakaari 4

Tietotie 1 E

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

Vesihuoltotekniikka

Tietotie 1 C

Aalto Ice Tank, Water and Environmental Engineering

Research machine surfing on the ice at the Aalto Ice Tank.

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