Ground and structural responses to presence of trees can be detrimental if their probable interactions are not duly considered. For example, trees growing in swelling/shrinking clays can lead to damage of buildings that are in close proximity. Very often the problem is not identified until appreciable damage has occurred. Guidelines relating to acceptable distances of trees to buildings are available, but these usually require specialist knowledge of trees. Current practices concerning tree protection and the subject of assessing potential structural damage from trees are reviewed and shortcomings are identified. Following this, two new risk methods to assess likelihood of damage to structures are explained. One covers damage occurring from direct growth of tree roots and the other is associated with settlement/heave above shrink/swell clay. Both systems are intended to provide a basis for identifying situations where advice by tree specialists should be sought, ideally in advance of occurrence of damage....

中文翻译：

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评估树木与建筑物相互作用的新风险方法

如果未适当考虑树木之间可能发生的相互作用，则对树木存在的地面和结构响应可能是有害的。例如，树木在膨胀/收缩的粘土中生长会导致附近建筑物的损坏。通常，直到出现明显的损坏，问题才被发现。可以找到与树木到建筑物的可接受距离有关的准则，但是这些准则通常需要树木的专业知识。审查了有关树木保护的现行做法以及评估树木潜在的结构损害的主题，并找出了不足之处。在此之后，解释了两种评估结构损坏可能性的新风险方法。一种覆盖树根直接生长造成的损害，另一种覆盖收缩/膨胀粘土上方的沉降/隆起。