Abstract: In order to realize the detection of the coal seam in front of heading face, and research on the velocity change of tunnel surface wave in roadway, the aut hors chosen Paner Mine as the tested mine, took advantage of the characteristics which surface wave carry strong energy and S wave reflection in discontinuous interf ace, carried out a seismic wave advanced detection experiment.The author analyzed the propagation characteristics of surface wave and the requirement of source, an d used vibroseis to generated tunnel surface wave in uncovering coal tunnel, monitoring of wave velocity continuously. The use of tunnel surface wave travel time, and t ime difference between direct and reflected waves, to calculate the velocity of S wave and tunnel surface wave, thereby, we could measure the distance between the tu nnel face and the coal seam. The results showed that the tunnel surface wave advanced detection could detect the distance between heading face and coal seam accur ately, the measurement error was not more than 0.5 m compared with the drilling; it could be expected to provide a new way of geologic structure detection in rock cros s cut coal uncovering.