Performance Evaluation of GIS-Based Novel Ensemble Approaches for Land Subsidence Susceptibility Mapping

The optimal prediction of land subsidence (LS) is very much difficult because of limitations in proper monitoring techniques, field-base surveys and knowledge related to functioning and behavior of LS. Thus, due to the lack of LS susceptibility maps it is almost impossible to identify LS prone areas and as a result it influences severe economic and human losses. Hence, preparation of LS susceptibility mapping (LSSM) can help to prevent natural and human catastrophes and reduce the economic damages significantly. Machine learning (ML) techniques are becoming increasingly proficient in modeling purpose of such kinds of occurrences and they are increasing used for LSSM. This study compares the performances of single and hybrid ML models to preparation of LSSM for future prediction of performance analysis. In this study, the spatial prediction of LS was assessed using four ML models of maximum entropy (MaxEnt), general linear model (GLM), artificial neural network (ANN) and support vector machine (SVM). Alongside, the possible numbers of novel ensemble models were integrated through the aforementioned four ML models for optimal analysis of LSSM. An inventory LS map was prepared based on the previous occurrences of LS points and the dataset were divvied into 70:30 ratios for training and validating of the modeling process. To identify the robust and best LSSMs, receiver operating characteristic-area under curve (ROC-AUC) curve was employed. The ROC-AUC result indicated that ANN model gives the highest ROC-AUC (0.924) in training accuracy. The highest AUC (0.823) of the LSSMs was determined based on validation datasets identified by SVM followed by ANN-SVM (0.812).