Comprehensive Evaluation and Spatial Zoning of Mine-Water Inflow Conditions in the Baiyanghe Coal Mining Area Using GIW Combined Weighting

To characterize spatial differences in mine-water inflow conditions across the Baiyanghe coal mining area in Xinjiang, eight indicators were selected to represent water-bearing media, external recharge, the potential for water transmission, and roof-rock response to water. Gini and independence weights, derived from variation among evaluation units and multiple correlations among indicators, respectively, were combined using equal coefficients (0.5:0.5) to form Gini–Independence Weighting (GIW) for evaluation and zoning using a geographic information system (GIS). The individual methods assigned markedly different weights to some indicators. The medium-high and high zones delineated by GIW occupied 40.81% of the area, forming discontinuous patches mainly in its western and central parts. Comparison with 43 sites with historical records of abnormal inflow showed that the medium-high and high zones delineated by Gini, independence, and GIW covered 33, 31, and 36 sites, respectively. GIW achieved 83.72% coverage and included every site covered by either individual scheme. Covering 80% of the recorded sites required 37.04% of the area under GIW, less than under either individual scheme. The areas under the coverage curves (AUCs) were similar for Gini, independence, and GIW (0.7851, 0.7659, and 0.7816, respectively). GIW integrated complementary spatial patterns from the two weighting criteria while retaining their main priority areas. The resulting zones represent relative differences in inflow conditions across the mining area; individual abnormal inflows also depend on local water sources, flow pathways, and mining conditions.