Sankey charts are a type of network diagram that is particularly useful for visualizing flows and processes. These charts are created by assigning a value to each node in the diagram and connecting them with arrows to show the direction and amount of flow. Since the earliest creation of Sankey charts during the 1970s, they have proven to be a valuable tool for understanding complex systems and workflows.
As early as 1970, the first printed depiction of a Sankey chart was published, it was created by Hans-Ulrich Wölferich and published in a book called “Network Analysis.” This book provided the first practical approach to designing and creating Sankey charts. At first, Sankey charts were mainly used in the engineering and science fields, like manufacturing and transportation, but they have been increasingly used in various fields since then, including medical science and marketing.
In the 1980s, the first commercial software for creating Sankey charts was developed. These software solutions were primarily for creating bar charts, and they were simple tools that lacked the complexity and flexibility of Sankey charts made by hand. Over the years, however, these software solutions have evolved, and modern tools like Tableau software can now offer more complex shapes and more customizable options.
In the 1990s, Sankey charts gained more prominence in fields like engineering and chemistry, where they were used to represent complex processes and workflows. The use of these charts also gained more interest in the academic world, where researchers used them to demonstrate the effectiveness of different processes and design alternatives.
In recent years, Sankey charts have been used in various innovative ways. For example, Sankey charts have been used to track the flow of money in financial services, to represent the flow of data through software systems, and even to measure the flow of information across companies and organizations. Many modern technologies have made it easier to create and analyze Sankey charts, and the field continues to evolve, with new tools and applications being developed by software developers and designers.
In conclusion, Sankey charts have come a long way since their inception in the 1970s. They have evolved from simple bar charts to more sophisticated diagrams that can represent complex processes and workflows. They are still used in various fields today, and they remain a valuable tool for understanding and visualizing information. Whether you are an engineer, a scientist, or a marketing professional, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for creating visualizations and understanding the flow of information across systems. If you are interested in learning more about how to create or use Sankey charts, consider taking a course or learning some software like Tableau or Microsoft Power BI that can assist in this process.
SankeyMaster
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