Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Richard J Huizinga, P.E.

Richard (Rick) Huizinga is interested in applying concepts of hydrodynamics and geomorphology to help solve real-world problems such as erosion hazards (scour) near bridges and erosion and deposition in rivers and lakes.

Rick is a project hydrologist at the Central Midwest Water Science Center in Rolla, Missouri.  Rick received his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in civil engineering (focused on Hydrology and Hydraulics) from the Missouri University of Science and Technology (M S&T, formerly UMR). Since joining the USGS in 1991, Rick has devoted his career to studying surface water hydraulics and specializes in bridge scour and applications of multibeam echosounders and motion-compensated and tripod-based lidar technology for geomorphic assessment and change detection.  He has participated in applied research focusing on predicting and measuring scour at bridge piers using hydraulic models and field methods. Rick is a recognized expert in the use of multibeam echosounder technology for assessment of bridge scour during floods as well as bathymetric surveying of inland alluvial rivers and streams and lakes.

Professional Experience

  • 1991-present, Hydrologist for U.S. Geological Survey

Education and Certifications

  • Registered Professional Engineer in Missouri and Kansas

  • M.S. Civil Engineering (Hydrology/Hydraulics), Missouri S&T, 1993, Rolla, Missouri. Thesis: “An analysis of the two-dimension flow in a vertically rotating flume”

  • B.S. Civil Engineering, Missouri S&T, 1991, Rolla, Missouri

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • 1991-present, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, VA

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 27
No Result Found
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 40

Simulation of flow and evaluation of bridge scour at Horse Island Chute Bridge near Chester, Illinois Simulation of flow and evaluation of bridge scour at Horse Island Chute Bridge near Chester, Illinois

The evaluation of scour at bridges throughout the State of Missouri has been ongoing since 1991, and most of these evaluations have used one-dimensional hydraulic analysis and application of conventional scour depth equations. Occasionally, the conditions of a site dictate that a more thorough hydraulic assessment is required. To provide the hydraulic parameters required to determine the...
Authors
Richard J. Huizinga, Paul H. Rydlund

Verification of vertically rotating flume using non-newtonian fluids Verification of vertically rotating flume using non-newtonian fluids

Three tests on non-Newtonian fluids were used to verify the use of a vertically rotating flume (VRF) for the study of the rheological properties of debris flow. The VRF is described and a procedure for the analysis of results of tests made with the VRF is presented. The major advantages of the VRF are a flow field consistent with that found in nature, a large particle-diameter threshold
Authors
R.J. Huizinga

Methodology for the assessment of scour at bridge sites in Missouri Methodology for the assessment of scour at bridge sites in Missouri

A field inspection methodology, a scour- susceptibility ranking procedure, and a data base management system were developed for the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to use for scour inspection and assessment at bridges throughout the State. Because scour can cause bridge failure, federal statute mandates that the approximately 4,700 state-owned bridges over water be...
Authors
Richard J. Huizinga, Loyd A. Waite

Laboratory procedures and data reduction techniques to determine rheologic properties of mass flows Laboratory procedures and data reduction techniques to determine rheologic properties of mass flows

Determining the rheologic properties of coarse- grained mass flows is an important step to mathematically simulate potential inundation zones. Using the vertically rotating flume designed and built by the U.S. Geological Survey, laboratory procedures and subsequent data reduction have been developed to estimate shear stresses and strain rates of various flow materials. Although direct...
Authors
Robert R. Holmes, R.J. Huizinga, S.M. Brown, H.E. Jobson

Science and Products

Filter Total Items: 27
No Result Found
No results found.
Filter Total Items: 40

Simulation of flow and evaluation of bridge scour at Horse Island Chute Bridge near Chester, Illinois Simulation of flow and evaluation of bridge scour at Horse Island Chute Bridge near Chester, Illinois

The evaluation of scour at bridges throughout the State of Missouri has been ongoing since 1991, and most of these evaluations have used one-dimensional hydraulic analysis and application of conventional scour depth equations. Occasionally, the conditions of a site dictate that a more thorough hydraulic assessment is required. To provide the hydraulic parameters required to determine the...
Authors
Richard J. Huizinga, Paul H. Rydlund

Verification of vertically rotating flume using non-newtonian fluids Verification of vertically rotating flume using non-newtonian fluids

Three tests on non-Newtonian fluids were used to verify the use of a vertically rotating flume (VRF) for the study of the rheological properties of debris flow. The VRF is described and a procedure for the analysis of results of tests made with the VRF is presented. The major advantages of the VRF are a flow field consistent with that found in nature, a large particle-diameter threshold
Authors
R.J. Huizinga

Methodology for the assessment of scour at bridge sites in Missouri Methodology for the assessment of scour at bridge sites in Missouri

A field inspection methodology, a scour- susceptibility ranking procedure, and a data base management system were developed for the Missouri Highway and Transportation Department to use for scour inspection and assessment at bridges throughout the State. Because scour can cause bridge failure, federal statute mandates that the approximately 4,700 state-owned bridges over water be...
Authors
Richard J. Huizinga, Loyd A. Waite

Laboratory procedures and data reduction techniques to determine rheologic properties of mass flows Laboratory procedures and data reduction techniques to determine rheologic properties of mass flows

Determining the rheologic properties of coarse- grained mass flows is an important step to mathematically simulate potential inundation zones. Using the vertically rotating flume designed and built by the U.S. Geological Survey, laboratory procedures and subsequent data reduction have been developed to estimate shear stresses and strain rates of various flow materials. Although direct...
Authors
Robert R. Holmes, R.J. Huizinga, S.M. Brown, H.E. Jobson

*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government

Was this page helpful?