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For a long time now architects have been complacent about their use of ICT. They invest in AutoCAD because 'it is the industry standard' (sic), yet they don't invest in training on how to use it efficiently. Likewise for presentations, why buy a desktop publishing program when you've got MS Word!

This lack of discernment when choosing tools to aid what we do has meant that most AutoCAD users don't know how to get the most from it, most project tasks are over-laborious, needlessly repetitive and sometimes abortive. All of this trial and error eats into an office's profitability.

Streamlining the design process using a tool like BIM seems like a sensible approach, after all, if you know the current approach is wasteful and can lead to uncoordinated information on site why are you continuing to use the same processes with the same abysmal delivery results?

BIM is popular in the US and the rest of Europe so why is the UK lagging behind? Paul Morrell, the Government's construction Tsar, mentioned the use of BIM and the possible advantages it would give to design teams selected for future public sector work. While public sector work has presently evaporated Contractors are gearing up to take the lead on this, like they did on BSF. Many architects complained about being sidelined during BSF procurement, others complained about the unwieldy size of design teams, but this will continue to be the norm if architects fail to engage with the alternatives that others are willing to adopt.

The RIBA is right place BIM on the agenda so that it becomes a talking point. Hopefully some architects will research, consider and possibly adopt BIM for themselves.