Which type of survey disregards the curvature of the Earth and is suitable for small areas?

The choice of plane surveys as the correct answer stems from the characteristics and applications of this surveying method. Plane surveys assume a flat surface and neglect the curvature of the Earth, making them particularly suitable for small areas where such curvature would have a negligible impact on measurements. This simplifies the mathematical calculations involved in surveying and allows for quicker and more straightforward procedures when high precision over large distances is not required.

In plane surveys, the techniques used can include triangulation, traverse, and simple leveling that work under the assumption of a flat Earth. This approach is effective for projects such as boundary surveys, construction stakeouts, and smaller land divisions, where the area being surveyed is sufficiently small that the Earth's curvature does not significantly alter the results.

Other types of surveys, such as geodetic surveys, take into account the Earth's curvature and are used for large areas and high precision tasks, making them unsuitable for small area projects. Zoned surveys and stadia surveys serve different specific purposes and do not primarily focus on the curvature assumption necessary for this question. Overall, plane surveys provide a practical and efficient approach for smaller scale surveying tasks.