[RightWhale]

go back to a flat earth

The universe appears to be flat, which might be simply seeing such a small part of it. According to Guth's Inflation, the radius of the universe could be a billion times the Hubble radius and what we see could appear flat as far as we can measure. By the same principle a square mile on the surface of earth can be taken as flat for practical surveying purposes.

[onedoug]

Francis S. Collins, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief

Guillermo Gonzalez & Jay W Richards, The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos is Designed for Discovery

[editor-surveyor]

"By the same principle a square mile on the surface of earth can be taken as flat for practical surveying purposes."

That works as long as you don't shoot any diagonals. (all rectangular layout)