Programming has been part of RICK for decades. From early survey tools like the RICK COGO application in the 1980s, to MicroStation tools in the 1990s, to Water Resources and GIS integrations in the early 2000s, this capability has continued to grow.
A new phase began in 2012 when RICK hired Ben Alonzo and began developing its first client-facing GIS web application.
Today, the RICK Coders team includes a group of dedicated developers contributing to RICK’s success every day. Their work ranges from small scripts and automation tools to large-scale applications supporting CAD, GIS, web platforms, internal systems, and AI-assisted development.
In areas like Regional Drainage Master Plans, RICK develops and maintains web-based platforms for the entire project team, including owner, design, and construction, along with automation as tools that streamline routine CAD tasks, improving overall efficiency.
“Clients desire great user experiences and highly efficient projects. RICK coders development team and the tools they deploy strengthen how we deliver and create reasons for clients to keep coming back.” —Brian Laird, RICK Associate Principal
Hydrology Tools and Industry Impact
RICK’s work in hydrology tool development goes back decades. The original RATHYDRO program, developed by RICK and published by the County of San Diego, supports rational method hydrograph calculations based on the County’s 2003 Hydrology Manual.
RICK has continued that work through the development of SDHydroTools. The new tool incorporates NOAA Atlas 14 precipitation data for user-defined locations and includes five computation modules aligned with the updated methodologies. Users can work with embedded or user-defined inputs, making complex hydrologic calculations easier to 
complete and review.
SDHydroTools was developed by Laura Henry and Anthony Cotts on the hydrology side, with Ben Alonzo and Brian Laird developing the user interface and compiled software package. Together, their work provides County staff and the broader engineering community with a tool designed around the new Hydrology Manual and the calculations it will require.
“SDHydroTools simplifies hydrologic computation processes and will facilitate plan review by County of San Diego staff.” —Laura Henry, RICK Associate Project Engineer
CAD and Engineering Workflow
RICK Coders are also changing the way teams work in Civil 3D by developing tools for tasks that would otherwise require significant manual work. Plan sheet creation is one example, with automation handling steps that employees previously had to complete individually.
The tools RICK uses are developed around needs that come directly from project teams, and in some cases, have also replaced third-party software. This gives RICK more control over how the tools work and allows them to be adapted to the way our teams use Civil 3D.
RICK CAD Manager Terry Raddeman’s programming has helped others work much more effectively.
“My programming in Civil 3D has improved team efficiency by automating time-consuming tasks, leading to faster delivery, fewer errors, and more consistent models.” —Terry Raddeman, RICK CAD Manager
Terry’s tools are also making a measurable difference in how teams operate day to day.
“Terry has built over 20 tools in Civil 3D based on team needs, often with surprising turnaround time. These tools simplify our workflows, sometimes replacing costly third-party solutions, and significantly improving efficiency. Automated plan sheet creation alone has helped speed up production. In many cases, Terry’s tools turn 10 clicks into 2.” —Kris Carlstedt, RICK Associate
The Impact Across RICK
We celebrate the people behind this work and the impact they continue to have across RICK. Their ideas have changed the way teams approach everyday challenges while creating tools that bring added value to our projects and clients. As programming and automation continue to evolve, RICK Coders will have even more opportunities to apply their expertise throughout the company and help us take on increasingly complex challenges.