A physical modelling has been undertaken to study the effectiveness of a mitigation technique (peripheral trench) to protect a residential house undergoing a ground surface subsidence from mining. A simple building model and a foam-material trench model are designed and implemented. Their deformations are measured by Digital Image Correlation (DIC) technique. The 3D physical model was proved very potential to qualitatively study the impact of ground movements on surface structures and the effect of soil-structure interaction. The trench technique was pointed out very effective to protect the building. The strain in the building and its surrounding ground are significantly reduced by the presence of the trench dug around the building.