Application　of　acoustic　emission(AE)　technique　in　the　field　of　civil　engineering　was　studied.　First,　it　reviewd　the　present　state　of　AE　and　analyzed　its　advantages　and　disadvantages.　Then,　several　AE　monitoring　schemes　for　the　building,　the　bridge　and　the　underground　structure　were　presented.　It　is　pointed　out　that　AE　technique　can　be　applied　not　only　for　judging　the　damage　level　and　the　damage　position　of　the　engineering　structure,　but　also　for　measuring　its　present　stress　level.　Therefore,　AE　technique　offers　a　very　promising　approach　for　health　monitoring　of　structures.