I think that the "seismic image" is the best tool for identifiying subsurface geological structures.
Earthquake maps are not always reliable. There are seismic "gaps" covering large areas. In such areas, before a strong earthquake, seismicity is blocked for several decades.
I advise you not to be lazy and read the works of the Ukrainian academician. For example this "The new rotational hypothesis of structure formation and its geological and mathematical grounds" https://discovery.kpi.ua/Record/000248298
For subsurface structural mapping, geophysical techniques such as seismic, gravitational and magnetic is preferred, based on the rock type, depth of investigation, area of coverage, etc. For better understanding, integration of these techniques is advised.
It depends on the tectonic setting. Commonly grav and mag are called structural methods but for detecting geological structures in sedimentary basins, no other method can be better than seismic reflection. In summary, seismic, grav and mag are powerful geophysical techniques for the proposed problem, and integrating geophysical methods provide always more precise info than a single method.
As noted by others, various geophysical techniques come to mind but actually by far the most money is spent for drilling in subsurface exploration. The large expenditures establish the effectiveness of drilling all over the world. This includes potential hard rock mining projects and geothermal work as well as gas and oil exploration. The term geologic structure is just too all encompassing.
If you were thinking of finding an anticline with no surface structural expression in a sedimentary basin, the second highest amount of money in this setting is spent on seismic reflection surveys (usually before drilling). People would not expend this large amount if it was not a generally effective technique. Other tools have a place in some projects. For example gravity and magnetic surveys probably take a very distant third place in expenditures, over miscellaneous. In some unique settings tools like electrical surveys or surface geochemical sampling might be just the thing, but in total they are a very small part of the business.
The seismic reflection method for deep target, refraction method for deep and shallow target.
Electrical Resistivity+ GPR+ MASW for shallow targets.
What is the type of structure you mean? And what depth do you mean?
There are several methods for identifying the subsurface structures.
It depends on the exploration target and depth. For detecting shallow and deep void, fault, sinkhole and fracture seismic refraction is suitable. For detect deep structure seismic reflection is reliable (oil and gas exploration). The application of MASW is limited to a depth of
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