Debris flow susceptibility assessment based on information value and machine learning coupling method: from the perspective of sustainable development

Accurately assessing the susceptibility of debris flow disasters is of great significance for reducing the cost of disaster prevention and mitigation, as well as disaster losses. Machine learning (ML) models have been widely used in the susceptibility assessment of debris flow disasters. However, these models often have randomness in the selection of non-disaster data, which can lead to redundant information and poor applicability and accuracy of susceptibility evaluation results. To address this issue, this paper focuses on debris flow disasters in Yongji County, Jilin Province, China; optimizes the sampling method of non-disaster datasets in machine learning susceptibility assessment; and proposes a susceptibility prediction model that couples information value (IV) with artificial neural network (ANN) and logistic regression (LR) models. A debris flow disaster susceptibility distribution map with higher accuracy was drawn based on this model. The model’s performance is evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), information gain ratio (IGR), and typical disaster point verification methods. The results show that the rainfall and topography were found to be decisive factors in the occurrence of debris flow disasters, and the IV-ANN model established in this study had the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.968). Compared to traditional machine learning models, the coupling model produced an increase in economic benefit of about 25% while reducing the average disaster prevention and control investment cost by about 8%. Based on model’s susceptibility map, this paper proposes practical disaster prevention and control suggestions that promote sustainable development in the region, such as establishing monitoring systems and information platforms to aid disaster management.