To study the real-time monitoring of the piping process of embankment by acoustic emission, a sand tank model test under the action of variable water head was carried out. By comparing the seepage flow, average hydraulic gradient and acoustic emission characteristics of the piping process, it is found that the hydraulic parameters and acoustic emission parameters have the same distribution law during the piping process. The b-value calculation method and the G-P algorithm are introduced to calculate the b values and the fractal dimension value D in the AE signal waveforms. The results show that the piping process can be discriminated from the magnitude and distribution of the b-value and the fractal dimension D. The damage can be reduced by in time prediction of the embankment piping damage.