Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that were first introduced in the field of economics in the 19th century. However, they have evolved and become increasingly popular in a variety of fields, including data visualization. These charts are designed to visualize flow and connections between different entities, making it easy to understand the relationships and patterns within the data. Here’s a closer look at how Sankey charts work, their various applications, and how to create one.
How Sankey Charts Work:
Sankey charts display flows as arrows, with the width of the arrows representing the magnitude of the flow. The nodes or endpoints represent entities in the flow, such as data sources or destinations. Each arrow begins and ends at a node, representing the flow from one entity to another.
Key Components of a Sankey Chart:
- Nodes: These are represented by the blocks or circles at the beginning or the end of the arrow.
- Arrows: The connections between the nodes, which represent the flow or the direction of movement of the data.
- Flow Amounts: Usually displayed as the size of the arrow, which is proportional to the volume or quantity of the flow.
Creating a Sankey Chart:
Creating a Sankey chart isn’t as straightforward as using some of the more basic chart types. It requires a bit more setup, depending on which software or tool is being used, but generally involves:
- Data Preparation: Glean the data you wish to visualize in the form of source and destination nodes, as well as the quantity of flow between these sources and destinations.
- Choosing a Tool: Select a tool or software capable of creating Sankey charts. Popular options include Python (with libraries such as Plotly or Matplotlib), R (using packages like ‘DiagrammeR’ or ‘ggplot2’), and tools such as Microsoft Power BI, Tableau, or even Excel with a little bit of VBA scripting.
- Data Input: Input your data into the chosen tool. This usually involves creating two tables: one for nodes (sources, destinations) and another for the connections between these nodes with quantities.
- Configuration and Styling: Once the data is uploaded, you can customize how the nodes and arrows are displayed, including their colors and sizes, and even add labels for clarity.
- Review and Finalize: Double-check the chart for any errors or misrepresentations, and then finalize the chart.
Benefits of Using Sankey Charts:
Sankey charts are not just visually appealing but also incredibly helpful for understanding complex flow data. They’re particularly beneficial in:
- Economics and Finance: Analyzing trade flows, investments, and currency flows between countries or institutions.
- Engineering and Manufacturing: Plotting material flows within a process or supply chains.
- Environmental Science: Displaying data flows in ecosystems, energy consumption across different sectors, or the flow of water in river systems.
- Data Science: Visualizing complex data flows in machine learning pipelines, user journeys on websites, or any system where understanding the direction, quantity, and relationship between data points is crucial.
Conclusion:
In a world where data flows are becoming more critical, a lack of clarity often leads to misinterpretation. Sankey charts can help reveal trends, patterns, and dependencies that would otherwise be difficult to discern. By leveraging the power of these charts, professionals in various fields can transform complex networks into easily digestible visual information, thereby making more informed decisions. Whether you’re dealing with economic transactions, environmental flow studies, or even just mapping out data routes for a new software feature, Sankey charts are a powerful tool to have in your data visualization arsenal.
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.
