Data visualization has become an essential tool for sharing and communicating complex information in both scholarly and practical contexts. Sankey charts are a form of visualization used to represent flow and network analysis, offering a unique and effective way to visualize hierarchical or complex relationships. This article will provide a guide to understanding and creating sankey charts, illustrating their applications in various fields, with a focus on providing a comprehensive overview of how they can be used to explain complex relationships in data analysis. Additionally, it will provide practical examples, including how to create sankey charts, and tips for better understanding the applications that can benefit from this type of visualization.
Understanding Sankey Charts
A Sankey chart or Sankey diagram is a type of flow chart that visualizes flows through complex networks. These charts illustrate how one element flows into and then into another element in a hierarchy. These charts often show how resources are distributed or allocated between various entities or systems, as well as the flows that exist between them. Sankey charts can be used to visualize hierarchical relationships, provide insights into data flow and how it is distributed throughout networks, and understand the relationships between different data sets.
The most common features of a sankey diagram are:
- A series of lines or arrows connecting the different elements
- The direction of flow is represented by the arrow and the line type
- The shape of the lines can represent the type of flow (sweeping or spiral, for example) in this context.
- Text or labels can be placed for the source, destination, or any point of measurement along the line.
The types of data that can be represented on a sankey chart can vary widely. For example, in the realm of data analysis, they can be used to visualize the distribution of values along with the source and destination of this data. They are often used in fields such as economics, social sciences, environmental science, and engineering, where flow diagrams are crucial to understanding and visualizing complex relationships.
How to Create a Sankey Chart
Creating a sankey chart is a relatively straightforward process. Here are some of the fundamental steps:
1. Choose the Element to be Centered
The center of your sankey chart should represent some key metric, such as money or population distribution. This metric will depend on the type of chart you are creating.
2. Measure All Elements
Measure the length of each arrow by counting the number of elements that flow into and out of it. If possible, measure the exact location where the flow enters or exits the element. For example, if you are creating a sankey chart to show the resources that flow into and out of the company headquarters, you would need to measure elements such as employees, materials, etc.
3. Choose the Shape
There are several options for arrow shapes in a sankey chart. The most commonly used shapes are sweeping and spiral, but you can also choose other shapes like diamonds or line segments. The choice depends on the overall design and the flow direction you want to represent.
4. Label Elements
Once you have measured all elements, add labels to indicate the source and destination. You can place labels on the chart using text or numbers.
5. Join Lines
All elements should be connected to their correct destination using either a sweeping or spiral arrow. Ensure that each line’s direction is consistent and that the connection point is correct.
6. Adjust the Layout
Sankey charts can be quite complex, and adjusting the color, font size, number of elements etc. can help make them more readable.
Sankey charts are particularly useful when creating hierarchical, multi-level diagrams. For instance, in economic analysis, you can visualize the flow of economic activities between individuals and firms, while in engineering, you can visualise the flow of goods and services along supply chains.
Use sankey charts for Business Analysis
In the realm of business analysis, Sankey charts can be extremely useful in understanding the flow of capital (money, resources etc.) within a business or organization. Imagine a large, complex organization, you could create a sankey chart to visualize how capital flows within the organization, including the funding or resources for a specific department, a project, or the entire organization.
Here are some examples of how sankey charts are used in business analysis:
- In finance, you can use a sankey chart to visualize how a bank allocates money across different assets such as mortgages, loans, and investments.
- In supply chain management, you can create a sankey chart to visualize the allocation of goods and services between suppliers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers.
- In project management, you can use a sankey chart to visualize how resources, like the time and money allocated, are distributed throughout the project lifecycle.
Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are applicable in various fields, including business analysis, public health, environmental science, political science, and many more. Here are some examples of how sankey charts can be used in these fields:
1. Business Analysis
- The allocation of capital among departments within an organization.
- The flow of resources and investment between different types of businesses, industries.
2. Environmental Science
- The flow of pollutants, waste, and energy through ecosystems and landscapes.
- Estimation of ecosystem services and impacts of pollution.
3. Political Science
- The flow of ideas, arguments, and ideologies through political institutions and processes.
4. Public Health
- The flow of resources and communication between healthcare services, facilities and communities.
5. Social Sciences
- The allocation of time and space between people, groups.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex relationships and flow patterns within datasets, particularly useful in fields such as economics, public health, and environmental science where hierarchical data analysis and flow diagrams are crucial. Sankey charts can be used to explain data distribution and identify key resources and sources. Therefore, when designing a sankey chart, consider the context and relevance of the data you are analyzing. Make sure to include all necessary elements such as text labels and arrow types to accurately represent the intended flow. With careful planning and attention to detail, sankey charts can effectively visualize complex relationships and help individuals understand complex data visually.
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