Sankey charts are a type of flow chart that visually represents the movement of quantities between two or more entities. They are named after Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, a British engineer who introduced them in the 19th century to represent the energy flow and efficiency in his company’s steam engine. Today, sankey charts have become a popular tool for visualizing complex flows, connections, and processes in various fields, including business, economics, science, and engineering.
Creating Sankey Charts
Data Preparation
Before creating a sankey chart, you need to collect data that represent the flows between entities. This data can be anything from sales figures, energy consumption, or ecological biomass interactions, depending on the field of application.
Choosing the Right Tool
Sankey chart creation depends on the level of complexity and the tools you have available. Popular tools include:
– Microsoft Excel: Useful for simple charts with a small number of flows.
– Tableau: Offers more dynamic and interactive charts with extensive customization options.
– R/Python: With libraries such as sankey diagrams in R or squarify and networkx in Python, more complex and customized charts can be created for data analysis.
– PowerBI: Good for users who prefer a more user-friendly interface, particularly in a business analytics context.
Designing the Chart
- Entities (Sources and Sinks): Identifying the nodes or entities in your data set (sources, flows, and destinations).
- Flows: Data that represent the quantity of information, energy, or material passing from one entity to another.
- Widths and Colors: Adjusting the widths of the links and colors to convey information. Generally, wider links represent larger flows and distinct colors help differentiate different types of flows.
Adding Interactivity
To enhance user engagement and provide deeper insights, consider adding interactive elements such as:
– Hover effects: Displaying more detailed information about a specific flow or entity upon hovering.
– Panning and zooming: Allowing users to explore different sections of the chart.
– Filtering options: Enabling users to filter the chart according to different criteria, such as time periods or categories.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Business
Sankey charts are invaluable for businesses to visualize processes such as supply chains, customer journeys, and financial transactions. They help in identifying bottlenecks, areas of high turnover, and patterns that could inform strategic planning.
Economics and Finance
In finance, sankey diagrams can depict the flow of money in economic models, investments distribution, or the movement of commodities across different regions. They aid in understanding complex financial systems and relationships.
Science and Engineering
In scientific research, especially in environmental and ecological studies, sankey charts are used to represent the flow of energy, materials, or information in ecosystems, chemical processes, or data processing systems.
Policy Analysis
Governments and international organizations use sankey charts to map out data flow in sectors like healthcare, education, and transportation, aiding in policy-making and resource allocation.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing data flows and connections. By choosing the right tool, preparing your data appropriately, and considering interactive features, you can create highly informative and engaging charts that unlock new insights and reveal complex processes in a visually intuitive way. Whether you are analyzing business operations, financial transactions, or intricate ecological systems, sankey charts offer a unique perspective that traditional charts often cannot convey.
Sankey charts have the potential to transform the way you present and understand complex data, making it easier for stakeholders across various industries to grasp and act upon the information presented. This versatility and power make them a valuable addition to any data visualization toolkit.
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