Each section is actually broken down into 20 block sections. Notice the 1 block wide strip going down the middle of the screen shot? This is the end of our first section. When the first section is marked out, you then mark out the rest of them. In each quarter of the area, there is about 6 sections for each quarter.
When you get ready to start flattening it all out, you then start with the very top layer. You take the top layer off first and do it in strips. Bascially, you go back and forth or up and down the strip. However you want to look at it. Once you take out one layer, then you work on another one.
If the terrain is difficult to work with, you can then spend time doing each section in sections. It should take about 20 - 30 minutes to do about half of a section. Roughly 40 - 50 minutes to do one full section. Assuming that you have all the supplies you need. In this particular map, I went ahead and gathered some Iron from caving and Logs from the forest nearby.
After about 4 - 5 hours and what ever kind of music that keeps you going, your area should look something like the image below. Hope you find this tip useful and we look forward to sharing more with you.