Under the Radar/Pádraic Fogarty:A few months ago, very few people probably knew what cryptosporidium was. Thanks to the recent contamination of the water supply in Galway, it seems everyone is an expert on the parasite and its effects on drinking water.

"To a certain extent, our water has been taken for granted," explains Pádraic Fogarty. "People don't think about the water that comes out of their taps. What happened in Galway was that the natural environment was overloaded from run-off from farms and domestic homes with poorly-maintained septic tanks."

Unlike most of us, Fogarty can claim to be something of an expert on the issue. He has set up an ecological consultancy to provide freshwater biological analysis, ecological impact assessment, vegetation and species surveys and training in biodiversity and environmental analysis to public and private organisations.

"I saw the opportunity. Local authorities were becoming more aware of their environmental impact and were hiring heritage officers and biodiversity officers," he says. "There will be a growing need for training in biodiversity awareness. That was one of the services that I offered from the start."

Before he set up his company, Openfield, the Castleknock native had spent 10 years working for the environmental health and safety department of pharmaceutical giant Bristol Myers Squibb.

He has a raft of qualifications in the area, including a degree in analytical science from DCU, a post-graduate diploma in environmental protection from Sligo IT and diplomas in geography and environment from the Open University and in field ecology from UCC.

Biodiversity and environmental protection are becoming big business.

Already Openfield has won contracts to provide biodiversity training to Cavan County Council and to help Louth and Meath county councils draw up their respective biodiversity action plans.

"A lot of local authorities are acknowledging and looking at ways of protecting the biodiversity in their counties," Fogarty says.

Much of this is being driven by EU and Irish law, which aims to ensure biodiversity by conserving natural habitats and wild flora and fauna.

"The habitats directive provides for the creation of a network of protected sites where there must be prior assessment of potentially-damaging plans and projects and measures for providing compensatory habitats in the event of damage," he continues.

"Firstly, I targeted local authorities - if they are not building themselves, they are giving planning permission for building. They would have an enormous impact on our biodiversity."

To this end, he has invested in habitat mapping aids in providing the necessary information for more sustainable forms of planning and development.

Using the latest in mobile geographical information systems (GIS) and global positioning systems (GPS), habitats can be mapped faster and more accurately than has ever been possible, according to Fogarty. The use of new mobile mapping technology is an innovation in this field.

"What I am doing different is in the use of technology," he says. "The traditional botanist or ecologist is somebody with a grubby notebook, going out into the field. Geographical information systems are revolutionising the way ecology is analysed and communicated."

Using a laptop computer with a built-in GPS system, Fogarty says that he can track changes, monitor the impact of conservation management or investigate the impacts of development on ecological features.

"I can draw in where I find a rare plant, pinpoint it on the electronic map and give local authorities a map of what I have found."

He is currently working with the Irish Peatlands Conservation Council to monitor a very rare type of butterfly on a site owned by the council. "I am applying the technology to map the site so that it can be managed to increase the numbers of the butterfly."

He is not limiting the company to the public sector, however. He has carried out environmental impact assessments for two small housing developments in Co Wexford, which included biological analysis to assess the impact on water quality in a nearby river.

"Galway is a good example where, at the start, you had a small number of houses, but they all add up, then suddenly you have a critical mass and overload the natural environment," he says.

On The Record

Name:Pádraic Fogarty

Age:33

From:Castleknock, Dublin

Family:Married to Annika, with two children, Max (6) and Moya (two months)

Education:St Declan's in Cabra, before studying for a degree in analytical science from Dublin City University. He also holds a postgraduate diploma in environmental protection from Sligo IT and diplomas in geography and environment from the Open University and field ecology from UCC

Inspired by:As a child, he was inspired by David Attenborough because he made ecology look so exciting. He says he admires him more for his communication skills and his infectious enthusiasm and the way he can involve people without being nerdy

Admires:Arnold Schwarzenegger. He is a fantastic role model because he shows what you can do if you believe in yourself and he is now a champion of the green movement

Favourite film: The King of Comedywith Robert de Niro - a very funny and clever movie

Favourite group:Smashing Pumpkins

Most likes to: Travel. His top destination is the Arctic which he describes as a "stunning and beautiful place"