Comprehensive Quality Evaluation of Underground Space Considering Geological and Socioeconomic Conditions

ABSTRACT The development of underground space can effectively mitigate pressure on urban land resources. An appropriate evaluation of underground space is essential for sustainable urban development. Most existing studies on the suitability evaluation of underground space focus primarily on geological conditions while neglecting socioeconomic factors, making it difficult for planning departments to directly adopt the evaluation results. Taking Qingdao as the study area, this study conducted a comprehensive quality evaluation considering geological and socioeconomic conditions based on a genetic algorithm and an improved technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) evaluation framework. On the basis of the results, overall planning guidelines for different functional zones of underground space within 30 m were provided. The findings indicate that the sub‐shallow layer has become a key layer for underground space development in the study area, with 60% of the region exhibiting favourable comprehensive quality. In addition, the evaluation framework proposed in the study has increased the safety of the results by 13%, ensuring high‐quality planning of underground space. This study can provide a reference for the comprehensive quality evaluation and planning of underground spaces in other cities.