Visual Dynamics: How Sankey Charts Illuminate the Flow of Information and Resources

In the world of data visualization, it isn’t often that a chart design emerges that truly revolutionizes the way we understand and interpret data. However, the Sankey Diagram, or Sankey Chart, has achieved just that. Originally developed by Edward Kennedy, an engineer for Shell Transport and Trading Company, in the 1950s, the Sankey Chart has since evolved into a powerful tool for visualizing the flow, movement, or transfer of objects between different processes, collections, or points. This includes information, resources, and energy, making it an invaluable asset in a wide array of fields from finance to environmental research.

How Sankey Charts Work

At the heart of any Sankey Chart lies the principle of using the width of connected arrows to represent the quantity of flows between various states or processes. The length of the arrows and the distances between different blocks can also be adjusted to represent the proportion of data, making Sankey Diagrams particularly powerful in communicating the relative quantities within a flow. This visual representation of the movement of quantities makes them easily understandable, even by audiences with no prior knowledge in the subject matter.

Creating a Sankey Chart

Creating a Sankey Chart may seem complex at first, but with the right tools and a clear understanding of your data, it can be a straightforward process. Typically, the steps involved are:

1. Data Preparation: Convert quantitative data into a format that can be represented as the width of arrows. The data typically includes the source and destination of each flow, as well as the value or quantity.

2. Designing the Structure: Decide on how many layers and categories will be represented in the chart. This will help in determining the arrangement of rectangles on your Sankey Chart.

3. Drawing the Arrows: Using tools such as Tableau, Python’s Matplotlib or Plotly, or R’s ggplot2, draw the arrows that represent the flow of data. The width of the arrows should correspond to the value of the flow.

4. Adding Labels: Clearly label each source, destination, and category to ensure that the chart is understandable to its audience.

5. Review and Refinement: Reflect on the chart’s clarity, and adjust the labels, colors, and positioning of elements until the flow of data is crystal clear.

Applications of Sankey Charts

Sankey Charts are a versatile tool that applications in a wide range of fields. Here are just a few examples:

In Finance

Sankey Charts can effectively visualize the flow of funds between different investment opportunities, showing the percentage distribution of investment allocations. This can help investors understand where their resources are distributed and how their investments are linked.

In Supply Chain Management

Suppliers, manufacturing, distribution and retail can be represented as interconnected blocks, with the flow of products or materials from one process to another depicted by the width of the arrows. This helps in identifying bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement.

In Environmental Studies

Sankey Charts can illuminate the flow of energy, materials, or substances through systems. For example, they can show the energy efficiency of a building, illustrating how much energy is lost between different stages of heating and cooling.

In Process Engineering

In manufacturing or chemical processes, Sankey Charts can help in visualizing the transformation of inputs into outputs, making it easier to understand and optimize the process.

Conclusion

Sankey Charts are a testament to the power of visualizing data’s flow. They offer a clear, accessible means of understanding complex flows of information, resources, and energy. Whether in financial analysis, environmental research, or process optimization, they can transform abstract data into insightful narratives. As the demand for data-driven insights continues to grow, Sankey Charts will likely remain a cornerstone in the world of data visualization, illuminating the flow of information and resources in innovative and effective ways.

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.