This　paper　proposed　a　method　for　locating　buried　polyethylene　(PE)　pipelines　based　on　three-dimensional　time-domain　stacking　focusing　on　elastic　wave　reflections.　Research　is　conducted　on　the　elastic　wave　propagation　mechanism　in　solids.　A　finite　element　model　of　the　propagation　of　elastic　waves　in　a　pipe-soil　coupling　system　excited　by　a　vertically　oriented　source　is　established.　The　transverse　wave　energy　component　below　the　excitation　source　is　zero　for　elastic　waves　excited　by　a　vertically　oriented　source.　Based　on　this　characteristic,　an　elastic　wave　probe　array　is　first　used,　circularly　distributed　around　the　excitation　source.　The　symmetry　of　the　probe　array　is　utilized　to　locate　the　buried　PE　pipes　in　the　horizontal　direction.　Then,　interference　from　the　transverse　waves　is　reduced　by　placing　the　excitation　source　directly　above　the　buried　PE　pipeline.　A　three-dimensional　image　of　the　buried　PE　pipeline　is　formed　using　high-frequency　elastic　wave　reflection　signals　and　three-dimensional　time-domain　stacking.　The　results　show　that　the　proposed　method　can　determine　the　horizontal　position　and　burial　depth　of　buried　PE　pipes　without　excavation.　In　addition,　this　work　is　significant　for　the　localization　methods　of　other　buried　pipe　materials.　The　related　detection　systems　and　imaging　methods　have　certain　universality　and　reference　value　for　detecting　other　buried　public　facilities.　©　2023　IOP　Publishing　Ltd.