The presentation details the research progress on information acquisition and processing for pressure pipeline leak detection in Chongqing University.Here, the leak detection of pressure pipelines, such as water-supply pipelines and gas pipelines, is nonintrusive based on vibro-acoustic signals collected on the outside walls of pipelines.The quality and effects of information acquisition and processing are essential for pipeline detection outcomes.In our research, specially-designed sensors and sensor casing are fabricated to improve the signal-to-noise ratio at signal acquisition stage.Based on the mechanical analysis and further understanding of the leak-induced acoustics in pipelines and the new development in probe techniques by using micro-accelerometers of multiple axes, we also show that it is possible to find and locate a leakage from signals collected at a single point in pipelines with much better accuracy.Benefited from the application of a series of noise-cancellation algorithms such as adaptive filtering, nonlinear filtering and empirical mode decomposition,our average leak location error is less than lm with a detected pipe length as long as 300-500 meters at a time.And the detection robustness is immune to the ambient conditions.This made our detection instruments could function at almost any engineering ambiences.We also developed pattern recognition schemes to identify leaks.By careful investigation on the unique features in acoustic signals related to leaking events, we develop robust recognition patterns for leak identification with correction identification rate lager than 90%.The patterns can tell the real leaks from other acoustic sources such as valve movements, junctions, noise sources outside a pipeline.In summary, it is concluded that information acquisition and processing are cores in pipeline leak detection and location.Based on the techniques of these, there are several ways to build up the instrumentation systems.One is the commonly used portable instrumentation systems.The on-line instrumentation systems will provide much better performances and conveniences with the development of wireless communication.And the technique progresses presented here will largely reduce the costs of instrumentation systems and significantly improve the practical pipeline detection performances.