In　this　article,　the　theory　of　the　wavelet　transform　and　modal　acoustic　emission　are　used　to　analyse　the　propagation　of　elastic　waves　in　thin　plates.　Based　on　the　theory　of　modal　acoustic　emission,　the　acoustic　emission　(AE)　signals　are　mechanical　in　nature.　When　they　propagate　in　wave-guided,　they　have　multi-mode　and　dispersion　characteristics.　The　separation　of　the　modes　at　the　sensors　could　make　it　possible　to　extract　the　exact　information　about　the　source　that　produced　the　waves.　Based　on　the　modal　nature　of　AE,　it　can　be　understood　that　a　good　location　would　have　two　methods　to　determine　the　arrival　times.　One　is　determined　on　the　same　part　of　the　waves　(not　only　the　same　mode,　but　also　the　same　frequency)　at　all　sensors.　The　other　is　determined　on　the　different　modes　at　one　sensor,　which　makes　it　possible　to　reduce　the　number　of　sensors　needed.　In　this　article,　an　acoustic　source　location　technique　with　one　sensor　is　brought　out.　First,　through　modal　analysis　of　the　propagation　of　elastic　waves　in　a　thin　plate,　the　dispersion　characteristics　of　the　modes　are　predicted.　Second,　the　wavelet　transform　theory　using　Gabor　wavelet　is　briefly　outlined　and　its　application　in　elastic　waves　is　explained.　It　is　shown　that　by　using　the　peak　of　the　magnitude　of　the　wavelet　transform,　the　arrival　times　of　the　different　modes　can　be　determined.　Additionally,　experiments　were　undertaken　using　a　lead　break　on　the　edge　of　the　plate.　These　demonstrated　the　feasibility　of　the　one　sensor　linear　location　scheme.　(C)　2004　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.