NIISK Zaporizhia Branch was founded in 1972 in order to solve urgent problems of construction in Dnieper and Donbas Regions where soil subsidence and coal bed exploitation are accompanied by surface deformation. A program of scientific activity of the Branch includes scientific search of foundations and structural concepts that have been adapted stepwise to experimental construction, natural experiments and bench tests of structures and units, rhus, new technologies of subsidence fixation by means of burning through deep drill holes as well as soil consolidation by deep bursting with preliminary moistening were developed and tested experimentally. Other technologies such as consolidation of ground bases, reinforcing of subsiding stratum with rammed elements composed of heavy loam, clay, gravel, slag and their mixtures were checked by natural testing. Intensity of negative friction having an effect on fixed masses and piles was determined under natural conditions; appropriate precautions, e.g. shields ofthixotropic materials, were developed to decrease that effect.
Along with the leading research institute and other guiding institutes of Ukraine NIISK Zaporizhia Branch performed 10 natural tests of routine series buildings that ensured wide-ranging construction under difficult engineering and geological conditions as well as durable operation and saving, in metal and concrete.
In recent years, the Branch has been developing probably the only method in Ukraine to rectify tilts of buildings and structures. This method is based on a drilling from under shallow foundations. Special machines of horizontal drilling are used. The technology is tested on thirty rigid structural systems such as box systems, chimneys, reservoirs. The obtained experience showed that durable operation of buildings and structures under difficult conditions is possible only if structural concepts, including reinforcing of weakened elements and units, methods ofstiffhess control as well as machining attachments necessary to hoist buildings are tested experimentally. Security of all the procedures of buildings reconstruction, detilting, reinforcing of their parts is impossible without monitoring system convenient in an engineering and economical sense. The Branch has worked at this problem for last 2-3 years. During that period transducers and their commutation are elaborated and tested experimentally on foundations of Zaporizhia subjected to deformation of loess soils. Organizations and institutions interested in durable protection of structures from settlement and subsidence are engaged in cooperation. Some examples of new structural concepts ol reinforcing, detilting and monitoring of constructions are given below. NIISK Zaporizhia Branch consists of Structures Reliability Department and Geotechnical Department. Its director is V.S. Shokarev, candidate of technical science (c.t.s.). The first, Structures Security Department, consists of several research laboratories (heads of laboratories are V.N. Zhuravlev and I.N. Moskalina, c.t.s.) and sections which are in line with present day demands for building reconstruction.
There are 50 specialists on the staff of NIISK Zaporizhia Branch.
The scientific potential of the Branch is supported by engineer workshop with an area of 2500 sq. m. and indoor proving ground designed for constructions testing with an area of 1800 sq. m. There are hoisting crane, power unit, presses, lifting jacks, compressors, drill units and other equipment for testing of soil structures and detilting of buildings on that sites.

DETILTING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES
NIISK Zaporizhia Branch developed a method to rectify tilts of buildings and struc-tures by changing stability of foundations using horizontal drilling ofihe ground layer. This method incorporates original technologies designed to rectify longitudinal, transverse and complex (diagonal) tilts.
Drilling-based detilting does not involve work with structures and buildings. Calculation methods and technology ensure correct triangular data. Stress and deformations (if present at the time of detilting) are not increased, all structures, joints and finishes remain unaltered. All works therefore can be carried out without relocating residents. Period of detilting: 1-2 months.

MONITORING SYSTEM FOR BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ON SUBSIDING SOILS
To protect buildings and structures against deformations caused by subsiding soils during moistening NIISK has developed a method for their early detection with accurate locating of the moisture source. This is based on continuous remote deformation measurement and computer analysis. A technique for monitoring deformations has been developed. Ferro-probes are used to measure tilt angles, magneto-elastic transducers are employed to measure shifts of bearing structures.

BACKING BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES ON SUBSIDING SOILS
Backing buildings and structures affected by subsidence is effectively a process of increasing strength and stiffness of individual (most damaged) bearing elements, in-stalling additional structures or general correction of the system including stress de-crease and force redirection. Backing is considered reliable if it is thoi oughly de-signed, based on the experience or tested in-situ or on stands.