Letter: What is BIM?

I have been asking questions over a longish period about BIM - so far I have received few answers. Now, James Bessey is asking a few more, on possible liability issues for those who use BIM (“If you want my advice…”, 30 January 2015, page 36). Just who, or what is driving BIM, and how seriously is it being taken by the industry? Who is collecting feedback from the users?

It seems to me that BIM has so far been adopted largely where government have insisted that it be a part of the design and construction process on their projects. So, surely the government agency responsible should be providing the answers? (and please, not in government speak but in language we can all understand).

Malcolm Taylor, FRICS, via email