Suitability of Underground Space Development in Plateau Cities Based on Geological Environment Analysis: Case Study in Kunming, China

Abstract Geology forms the basis for underground space development. In mountainous plateau areas, developing underground spaces requires detailed analyses and appraisal. This study used the index scale analytic hierarchy process (AHP) to analyze the geological conditions and to propose an evaluation system suitable for Kunming, China. An evaluation model was established using mathematical principles, and a geological suitability evaluation of Kunming was conducted using GIS. According to the evaluation, underground space in Kunming considered suitable, medium suitable, unsuitable, and forbidden for development accounts for 37.81%, 20.38%, 17.61%, and 24.2% of its total area, respectively. Soft soil and karst topographies are the primary disqualifying factors, followed by groundwater and geological fault zones. Our results reveal that most of the underground spaces in the plateau area are suitable for development. However, there are areas where construction should be strictly regulated, such as those adjacent to geological fault zones. With this study, the superiority of the index scale method was demonstrated, and the consideration criteria of the evaluation system and indexes in plateau cities were proposed.