Apparatus and method for protecting a building

A method implemented by a machine for protecting a building on ground from attack by pests, comprising the steps of:

• introducing a treatment agent into the ground beneath the building;
• acquiring environmental condition information relating to environmental conditions in a vicinity of said building;
• and
• controlling administration of a treatment agent in said vicinity of said building based on said environmental condition information whereby to provide an amount of said treatment agent which for those environmental conditions remains below a safety threshold for habitation of said building and reduces a population of said pests.

Apparatus for protecting a building on ground from degradation by pests, said apparatus comprising:

• means for introducing a treatment agent into the ground beneath the building;
• a monitor operable to acquire information relating to environmental conditions in the vicinity of said building affecting the rate of decay of the said treatment agent;
• and
• a treatment controller operable to control administration of the treatment agent on the basis of the said environmental condition information to provide an amount of said treatment agent which, for those environmental conditions, remains below a safety threshold in the habitable parts of the building and reduces a population of said pests.