Engineering application of fuzzy evaluation based on comprehensive weight in the selection of geophysical prospecting methods

Faced with complex engineering geological problems, the application of comprehensive geophysical prospecting technologies allows for various technical achievements to complement each other, verify each other, reduce the ambiguity in geophysical prospecting results, and improve the accuracy of geophysical prospecting interpretations. At present, comprehensive geophysical prospecting is predominantly a simple synthesis of quantification, lacks effective intelligent decision-making methods, and cannot maintain pace with the development direction of future intelligent geophysical prospecting technologies. Therefore, this study proposes a geophysical prospecting selection evaluation method based on comprehensive weights to realize the transformation from empirical to scientific decision-making. In the proposed method, four criteria—specifically, detection accuracy, technical reliability, economic rationality, and data richness level—are first selected to establish an evaluation index system. Then, analytical hierarchy process and entropy weight method are used to combine subjective experience with objective data to form a comprehensive weight for the evaluation of geophysical prospecting selection through the fuzzy evaluation method. The efficacy of the proposed method was evaluated through application to karst exploration in the limestone mining area of the Hepu in Guangxi, for which an optimal geophysical prospecting scheme, composed of electrical resistivity tomography, microtremor survey method, and cross-hole resistivity computed tomography, was obtained. The scheme realizes the asymptotic detection of karst development from coarse to fine and improves the timeliness and economics of disaster management. These results verify the effectiveness and scientific soundness of the proposed method.