10.2.5 Utilizing the characteristics of ground set...
If ground settlement can be accurately predicted or observed，the characteristics of ground settlement can also be utilized for property protection.
As shown in Figure 10.3，a building is close to the excavation and tilts significantly in the first excavation stage.With the continuation of excavation，the angle of tilt of the building，however，began declining.When the excavation is finished，the building becomes approximately vertical，although the total settlement has increased.
Figure 10.3 Slanting conditions of the building
The phenomenon of the declining angle of tilt of the building can be explained by the shape of the settlement profile.In the first stage，the settlement at A⁃A is larger than that at B⁃B，causing the tilt.With the excavation proceeding and the increase of excavation depth，settlement at B⁃B exceeds that at A⁃A，so the building starts being drawn back and the angle of tilt declining.
From the discussion，it follows that an accurate prediction of settlement during the process of excavation will help property protection.The characteristics of ground surface settlement can be predicted by the methods introduced in Chapters 5 and 6 or be derived from measurements.