L'utilisation du cadastre sarde de 1730 pour l'étude des rivières savoyardes : l'exemple de la vallée de l'Arve (Haute-Savoie). / The "Mappe Sarde". Use for an historical study of the Arve river (Haute-Savoie)

The "Mappe Sarde" of 1730 is the oldest reliable map concerning the "department" of Savoy. This paper assesses its usefulness for fluvial geomorphic studies. The map, drawn at the scale of 1/2400° , provides an accurate picture of rivers which can be used for diachronic as well as for synchronie analysis ; nevertheless, it must be used with caution, as is shown in relation to the questions scale change, the interrelationship of sheets and the verification of their reliability. The Sarde land survey allows the calculation of semi-quantitative parameters such as the index of sinuosity and braiding. The interest of such reconstruction of the fluvial landscape is exemplified by the alluvial plain of the Middle Arve river.