Sankey charts are a popular and powerful way to visualize flow data. These diagrams show the flow of quantities, such as energy, material, or money, through a system. In this article, we’ll explore the creation and applications of Sankey charts, highlighting their ability to convey complex information in an easy-to-understand format.
What is a Sankey Chart?
A Sankey chart is a method of visualizing flow data using arrows whose width is proportional to the quantity they represent. The chart typically starts with a source, followed by a series of links between nodes or elements, and ends with a sink. This type of chart provides a clear way to see where the flow originates, how it’s distributed, and where it goes.

Creating a Sankey Chart
To create a Sankey chart, you’ll need the following data points:

• Flow: The quantity being transferred
• Source: The origin of the flow
• Sink: The destination of the flow
• Flow name (optional): A label that describes the type of flow (e.g., green for renewable energy, red for fossil fuels)
• Node labels: Names or descriptions for the source, internal, and sink nodes

You can create a Sankey chart using various tools such as Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau, R, Python, or specialized software like Sankeyviz. Below are the steps for creating a Sankey chart using the Sankeyviz tool:

1. Prepare your data in a CSV file with the appropriate columns: source, target, value, and label. Optionally, include an additional column for color if you want to differentiate flows by color.
2. Install Sankeyviz using npm install -g sankeyviz if you’re using a command-line interface.
3. Create a JSON configuration file, specifying the data path, display settings, and any customizations. For instance, you might want to set a specific color for each flow type or choose a different line style.
4. Generate the Sankey chart by running the command sankey <dataPath> <filePath> where <dataPath> is the path to your CSV file, and <filePath> is where you want the resulting diagram to be saved.
5. Customize your chart with additional features such as labels, tooltips, and responsive dimensions.

Applications of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are widely used for visualizing flow data across various sectors. Here are a few examples of their applications:

• Energy systems: Engineers use Sankey charts to explore energy consumption and distribution in power grids, renewable energy systems, or fuel refining processes.
• Supply chains: Businesses utilize Sankey charts to depict the flow of goods through their distribution networks or inventory tracking systems.
• Website traffic: Web analysts can benefit from Sankey charts to visualize page transitions in user journeys or the flow of user traffic between different segments of a site.
• Economic models: Economists can use Sankey charts to illustrate the flow of money, commodities, or production through various sectors. For instance, in trade analysis, they can show the import/export flow between countries or the exchange within a specific industry.

Conclusion
Sankey charts provide an efficient and visually engaging way to represent complex flow data, making them a valuable tool for analysts, designers, and decision-makers. Whether you’re working on energy systems, supply chains, web analytics, or economic models, incorporating well-designed Sankey charts can greatly enhance your ability to communicate and understand the flow dynamics within your domain. So, the next time you encounter a situation that requires visualizing data flow comprehensively, consider leveraging the power of Sankey charts to master the flow yourself.

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