Intelligent identification of fracture-cave structures in mining goaf using unsupervised learning and BP neural network synergy: taking the Hejin area of Shanxi as an example

QiuChen LI, Sheng SUN, XingLong XIE, ZhengWei REN, YuanYuan MING, ShuJun GUO, ZhengPu CHENG, FangZi CUI

Prog Geophy ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4) : 1671-1681.

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Prog Geophy ›› 2026, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (4) : 1671-1681. DOI: 10.6038/pg2026JJ0341

Intelligent identification of fracture-cave structures in mining goaf using unsupervised learning and BP neural network synergy: taking the Hejin area of Shanxi as an example

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Abstract

To address the challenge of predicting fracture-cave structures in coal mine goafs, this paper proposes a novel identification technique based on seismic attribute fusion. First, extraction algorithms for multiple sensitive seismic attributes were implemented, and corresponding modules were developed on a self-developed software platform. Second, to overcome the lack of supervised information and background noise in goaf areas, unsupervised machine learning algorithms—including Fuzzy C-Means Clustering (FCM) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA)—were integrated to analyze and fuse the extracted seismic attributes. Then, the unsupervised learning results were innovatively constrained using multi-source information data to extract supervised samples. A deep learning model based on the Backpropagation (BP) neural network was constructed and trained to achieve seismic attribute fusion and fracture-cave structure identification in goafs. Finally, the proposed method was applied to a goaf area in the Modi Gully, Hejin, Shanxi Province. The results demonstrated effective fusion of multiple seismic attributes, with predicted fracture locations and goaf boundaries showing strong agreement with drilling data, This study provides a reliable technical approach for fracture-cave identification in goaf areas.

Key words

Seismic attribute fusion / Fracture-cave structure identification / Unsupervised machine learning / BP neural network / Coal mine goaf

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QiuChen LI , Sheng SUN , XingLong XIE , et al . Intelligent identification of fracture-cave structures in mining goaf using unsupervised learning and BP neural network synergy: taking the Hejin area of Shanxi as an example[J]. Progress in Geophysics. 2026, 41(4): 1671-1681 https://doi.org/10.6038/pg2026JJ0341

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