ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region

Landing suitability evaluation in the Lunar Southern Polar region is critical for future exploration, it requires integrating various environmental factors to balance safety and scientific value. This study proposes a Residual Connection Graph Attention Forest (ResGAT-F) model, which systematically...

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Main Authors: Shibo Wen, Yongzhi Wang, Xingyu Chen, Qizhou Gong, Jianzhong Liu, Xiaoxi Kang, Hengxi Liu, Kai Zhu, Sheng Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-08-01
Series:International Journal of Digital Earth
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2547291
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author Shibo Wen
Yongzhi Wang
Xingyu Chen
Qizhou Gong
Jianzhong Liu
Xiaoxi Kang
Hengxi Liu
Kai Zhu
Sheng Zhang
author_facet Shibo Wen
Yongzhi Wang
Xingyu Chen
Qizhou Gong
Jianzhong Liu
Xiaoxi Kang
Hengxi Liu
Kai Zhu
Sheng Zhang
author_sort Shibo Wen
collection DOAJ
description Landing suitability evaluation in the Lunar Southern Polar region is critical for future exploration, it requires integrating various environmental factors to balance safety and scientific value. This study proposes a Residual Connection Graph Attention Forest (ResGAT-F) model, which systematically integrates multi-source spatial data to extract regional features and environmental relationships, enabling a quantitative assessment of landing suitability that addressing safety and multi-disciplinary scientific exploration scenarios. Results show all ResGAT sub-models achieve over 96% accuracy based on pixel-wise labels generated by the adapted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) from multiple small-sample regions. Ensemble ResGAT-F attains AUC above 0.92, outperforming the baseline model Attn-CNN (accuracy: 93%, AUC: 0.86). A 256 m resolution suitability map between 80°S to 90°S was generated and been scored (scoring ≥8 means highly suitable), which can evaluate site suitability across the region. Only 7.81% of the area meets safety requirements and potential of multi-target scientific exploration. Suitability evaluations for Artemis III candidate landing zones, such as Malapert Massif, indicates 28% of this area meets the requirements. The ResGAT-F in handling complex, multi-dimensional lunar data shows potential for supporting future landing missions and improving lunar exploration planning.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1753-8947
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
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series International Journal of Digital Earth
spelling doaj-art-3f6363b41d2e4a3ba00b56e2ae91d8a92025-08-25T11:31:45ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Digital Earth1753-89471753-89552025-08-0118110.1080/17538947.2025.2547291ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar regionShibo Wen0Yongzhi Wang1Xingyu Chen2Qizhou Gong3Jianzhong Liu4Xiaoxi Kang5Hengxi Liu6Kai Zhu7Sheng Zhang8College of Geoexploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCollege of Geoexploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCollege of Geoexploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCollege of Instrumentation and Electrical Engineering, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for Lunar and Planetary Science, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, People’s Republic of ChinaDeep Space Exploration Laboratory, Beijing, People’s Republic of ChinaCollege of Geoexploration Science and Technology, Jilin University, Changchun, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for Lunar and Planetary Science, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, People’s Republic of ChinaCenter for Lunar and Planetary Science, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, People’s Republic of ChinaLanding suitability evaluation in the Lunar Southern Polar region is critical for future exploration, it requires integrating various environmental factors to balance safety and scientific value. This study proposes a Residual Connection Graph Attention Forest (ResGAT-F) model, which systematically integrates multi-source spatial data to extract regional features and environmental relationships, enabling a quantitative assessment of landing suitability that addressing safety and multi-disciplinary scientific exploration scenarios. Results show all ResGAT sub-models achieve over 96% accuracy based on pixel-wise labels generated by the adapted Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to an Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) from multiple small-sample regions. Ensemble ResGAT-F attains AUC above 0.92, outperforming the baseline model Attn-CNN (accuracy: 93%, AUC: 0.86). A 256 m resolution suitability map between 80°S to 90°S was generated and been scored (scoring ≥8 means highly suitable), which can evaluate site suitability across the region. Only 7.81% of the area meets safety requirements and potential of multi-target scientific exploration. Suitability evaluations for Artemis III candidate landing zones, such as Malapert Massif, indicates 28% of this area meets the requirements. The ResGAT-F in handling complex, multi-dimensional lunar data shows potential for supporting future landing missions and improving lunar exploration planning.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2547291Lunar south polelanding suitabilitygraph neural networksensemble learningwater ice detection
spellingShingle Shibo Wen
Yongzhi Wang
Xingyu Chen
Qizhou Gong
Jianzhong Liu
Xiaoxi Kang
Hengxi Liu
Kai Zhu
Sheng Zhang
ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
International Journal of Digital Earth
Lunar south pole
landing suitability
graph neural networks
ensemble learning
water ice detection
title ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
title_full ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
title_fullStr ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
title_full_unstemmed ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
title_short ResGAT-F: a novel graph neural network-based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
title_sort resgat f a novel graph neural network based approach for evaluating landing suitability in the lunar southern polar region
topic Lunar south pole
landing suitability
graph neural networks
ensemble learning
water ice detection
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17538947.2025.2547291
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