The design of the construction site can be conditioned by external factors that can lead to the implementation of different organizational choices. In general, the construction site preparation procedure can be divided into five basic steps:
For example, if new construction projects need to be carried out on a site that was partly used as a gymnasium, the old building must be removed. In this way a new building will be erected and site preparation will be simplified.

1. Construction site clearing: this is the first step to make the site area free, bare and ready to accommodate the vehicles and scheduled work. In this phase obstacles (such as trees) are removed, buildings and any underground structures not useful for the project are demolished
2.  Construction site surveying: it is the activity managed by the surveyor, who is responsible for verifying the exact area in which the project is to be developed and who detects whether the land may or may not be suitable for the type of work to be developed
3. Soil testing: consists of examining the soil to test, first of all, its ability to absorb water and resist the structure. It is one of the most critical tasks and it is the construction site engineer who has to manage this step, performing all the necessary soil test procedures before starting any structural activity. It is from the soil examination that a land may not be suitable for the type of project, forcing those responsible to search for another more appropriate land
4. Site plan design: after carrying out the soil tests, all the necessary drainage structures and septic tanks are installed and their underground positioning must be indicated. The recording of underground areas changes daily, because the rock formations in the subsoil often change just as often. Since what changes underground also leads to changes above ground, the site plan is also updated practically on a daily basis, having to report new storage and transit areas.
5. Construction site investigation: it is nothing more than the geotechnical survey performed to characterize the conditions of the rock, soil and groundwater of the entire site area. A geotechnical investigation is the key to gaining correct site information and designing the foundation of a structure

Site preparation is a precise process which, although it can be summarized in five steps, is also lengthy. Most residential construction projects take a month or two of preparation; for larger projects, even more time is required.