Sankey charts are a unique visual representation of flows. They are named after their inventor, Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, who used this type of chart to illustrate the energy conversion and loss in a steam engine while he worked for the engineering company, Thomson & Randell. Since then, Sankey charts have been used in various fields to visualize how different quantities of a material or information are distributed through various pathways.

What Are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are flow diagrams that depict the distribution and flow of interconnected elements, often used to represent energy, material, or data flow. They consist of nodes (sources, transformers, and sinks) and links, where the width of the links is proportional to the flow quantity, making the visual impact strong and meaningful. These charts are particularly useful in fields such as energy management, environmental science, economics, and urban planning, where tracking flows of energy use, material waste, or financial transactions is critical.

How to Create Sankey Charts

Creating a Sankey chart involves several steps:

1. Data Collection: Gather all the necessary data about the flows you intend to represent. This could include material quantities, energy consumption, financial transactions, or data usage, depending on the context.

2. Node Identification: Identify the sources, transformers, and sinks of your flows. These are typically referred to as nodes. Sources are where flows originate, transformers process the flows, and sinks are where flows end up.

3. Link Definition: Define the links between nodes. Each link should represent an entity that flows from one node to another. These links are crucial as they determine the connectivity and flow patterns in your Sankey diagram.

4. Link Flow Data: Assign quantities or values to each link. This is what the width of the links in the Sankey diagram represents. Larger widths indicate higher flow rates or quantities, visually emphasizing the significance of certain connections.

5. Software Tools: Utilize software tools designed for creating Sankey charts. Many tools, such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and specialized software like ConceptDraw, allow for the creation of Sankey diagrams. Some data visualization frameworks like D3.js also offer libraries for creating complex Sankey diagrams programmatically.

Applications of Sankey Charts

1. Energy Management:

   • Tracking Energy Consumption: Sankey charts can be used to map the flow of energy, helping organizations understand where energy is being consumed and how it’s transformed. This is invaluable for identifying inefficiencies and planning improvements.

2. Environmental Science:

   • Eco-Flows: These charts can help visualize the flow of resources or waste in ecosystems, aiding in the assessment of environmental impacts and resource management.

3. Economics:

   • Trade and Financial Flows: By mapping the flows of goods, services, or capital between countries or economic sectors, policy analysts and economists can gain insights into trade patterns, economic interdependencies, and potential vulnerabilities.

4. Urban Planning and Supply Chain:

   • Transportation Networks: Sankey charts can illustrate traffic flow in road networks, air traffic patterns, or supply chain logistics, helping planners optimize routes and logistics for efficiency and sustainability.

5. Healthcare:

   • Patient Journey Mapping: In healthcare, these charts can trace patients’ journeys through hospital services or healthcare systems, identifying bottlenecks and areas for improving patient flow and care effectiveness.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex flow dynamics in a comprehensible and aesthetically appealing manner. Their ability to represent both the magnitude and direction of flow makes them indispensable in decision-making processes across multiple sectors. From optimizing energy systems to understanding the intricacies of global supply chains, Sankey diagrams provide clear, actionable insights, guiding organizations towards more informed and effective strategies.

SankeyMaster

SankeyMaster is your go-to tool for creating complex Sankey charts . Easily enter data and create Sankey charts that accurately reveal intricate data relationships.