The Department of Environment established a GIS Cell as a part of Emergency Tsunami Reconstruction Project (ETRP) funded by the World Bank. GIS Cell has monitored the project components under ETRP/CDRRP like demarcation of High Tide Line (HTL), preparation of Integrated Coastal Zone Management Plan (ICZMP), Coastal Vulnerability maps, erection of Stone pillar on High Tide Lines along the coast of Tamil Nadu etc.

The Department of Environment is a State body which gives clearance for projects which are proposed in the Coastal Regulation Zone. To monitor the violations in CRZ areas, the Green Squad along with staff from GIS cell identifies and maps the location with the help of GPS instruments and furnishes reports based on which action is taken. The GIS Cell is monitoring the project works viz., i) preparation of CZMP in 1:25000 scale through NCSCM ii) Integrated Coastal Zone Management Project for Tamil Nadu under Phase II iii) Oil spill Disaster Contingency plan for Tamil Nadu iv) Disaster Management Plan of Department of Environment iv) Report of the Committee on Assessment of Environmental impact of Oil spill occurred due to collision of two ships in the sea off Ennore, Chennai. Training and awareness programmes on ICZMP have also been conducted through GIS Cell.