Which type of surveying disregards the curvature of the earth?

Plane surveying is characterized by its assumption that the Earth is flat, thereby disregarding the curvature of the Earth. This method is commonly used for relatively small areas where the Earth's curvature has negligible effects on the measurements and calculations. Since it treats the Earth's surface as a flat plane, it simplifies calculations for distances, angles, and elevations, making it easier to produce accurate surveys over manageable distances, such as those found in property assessments or construction projects.

In contrast, geodetic surveying is designed to account for the Earth's curvature and is used for larger areas where the curvature becomes significant. Topographic surveying focuses on the representation of the Earth's surface features and might incorporate curves for larger areas, but still operates within the framework of plane surveying at smaller scales. Route surveying is more specialized and can involve aspects of both plane and geodetic surveying but does not primarily disregard the curvature of the Earth in its methodologies. Therefore, plane surveying is distinctly recognized for its simplification of the Earth's surface in surveying practices.