Older or traditional types of building (such as 5 storey walk-ups) have their own holistic characteristics, despite not being ‘engineering structures’. These characteristics can also be described and compared with what is normal. Quite often SG is involved with assessing the characteristics of older buildings that are close to new construction (such as new buildings or tunneling). Under these circumstances a baseline (before work begins) and subsequent monitoring shows whether the construction work has affected the building in any way, or it provides a methodology for making sure that the ongoing work is conducted in a way that does not prejudice the building.