Sankey charts, also known as flow diagrams, are a powerful tool for visualizing complex and interdependent relationships between various entities and their flows. With a simple yet versatile design, you can easily create charts that communicate intricate information without requiring much technical knowledge. In this article, we will explore the art and science of creating and interpreting sankey charts. Let’s dive in!

What Are Sankey Charts?

Sankey charts are a type of flow diagram that has two primary components: a node for representing an entity and a line for depicting a flow of data. Each node and line is connected by a segment that represents the duration of the flow. Sankey charts are commonly used to illustrate the relative importance and flow of resources, such as capital and human labor, between sectors or economic activities.

Creating Sankey Charts

Creating the Flow Diagram Architecture

To create a Sankey chart, the first step is to define the entities you want to include in your diagram. These entities could represent anything from geographic regions to economic sectors to industry sectors. For example, you might want to show how different regions distribute resources among themselves, or how certain economic activities impact each other.

Once you have identified the entities, the next step is to map out the relationships between them. This involves connecting each entity to all other entities that have a flow with it. The flow can be either positive (if the flow is from a region to another) or negative (if it is from another region to that region). You may also need to define units of measurement for your entities to ensure that the flow is consistent.

Adding the Nodes and Lines

Once you have defined the entities and the flow between them, you can start adding the nodes and lines to your diagram. You can use a tool like D3.js or a web-based plotting library to create a sankey chart that looks and feels like a professional publication. These tools are equipped with built-in features like drag and drop functionality, which makes it easy to connect and create a flow.

Applying the Principle: Understanding the Information

Sankey charts can be used to convey a wide variety of information, from economic trends to social relationships. Whether you want to understand the supply chain of a company, or how different regions interact with each other, sankey charts provide a visual representation of complex interaction. You can use your sankey chart to identify which entities impact each other significantly and which don’t. By understanding the flow of data and resources within your chart, you can make informed decisions about how to allocate resources most efficiently.

Case Study

Now that you have the tools and technique, let’s explore a simple case study to demonstrate how to use sankey charts for analysis.

Analyzing Supply Chain Diagram

Take the case of a hypothetical company with multiple factories operating in different regions. The company wants to determine how its supply chain operates and identify bottlenecks. Below is a simplified representation of the supply chain diagram:

+--------------+ +-----------+ +%------------+ | Product A | | Product B | +%------------+ | | | Product C | +%------------+ | | +-----------+ +%------------+ +--------------+ | | %-----------+ +-----------+ `

This diagram represents how the company produces and distributes Product A, which has a significant impact on other variables in its supply chain. Each node represents a type of product, and the flow in each node represents the amount and duration of a certain resource (in this case, labor and materials) that is involved in its production.

Analyzing the Flow

To visualize the flow, we can add a sankey chart like the one below:

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.

Unlocking the Secrets of Sankey Charts: A Visual Guide to Understanding Flow Diagrams