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Sankey charts offer a unique and powerful way to visualize and analyze complex network data with ease. These charts are widely used in various fields such as engineering, public health, social sciences, and economics. The ability to create and understand sankey charts is crucial for businesses, government organizations, and researchers alike.
What is a sankey chart?
A sankey chart is a graph-based visualization tool that maps the flow of material or information in a network. A sankey chart consists of multiple pipes or channels that represent the movement of data, while the nodes represent the sources and sinks of information. Each pipe or channel is marked with its name and capacity (volume) to illustrate the amount of work or material that can be transferred through it.
The sankey chart is built to help analysts understand the structure of a network and how it relates to the flows of data. This type of chart is ideal for understanding the source of data, the type of information being transferred, and the capacity used by a particular source or sink.
How to create a sankey chart
Sankey charts can be created using many tools like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau, etc. However, the majority of sankey charts created using these tools use the Excel add-in XSD (Sankey Diagram).
Here’s a simple step-by-step guide on how to create a sankey chart using XSD:

1. Open your Excel sheet and select the data that needs to be visualized or organized.
2. Determine the orientation of the data, whether horizontal or vertical. This will determine the format of your sankey chart.
3. Click on “Insert” and then “Figure” icon.
4. Click on “New Chart” and pick “Sankey Diagram” from the drop-down list.
5. In the “Sankey Editor” window, click on “Add Nodes” to add your source and sink nodes. Label each node with the name of the source (e.g., “Factory” or “Source of Data”). Also, label each node with a color to visually differentiate them.
6. In the “Nodes” section, click on “Add Pipes” to specify the nodes and the data they represent.
7. In the “Pipes” section, click on “Add Piping Data” to add data to the pipes. Ensure you have all the relevant data and labels for each pipe.
8. Once you have defined the number and connection locations of the pipes and the capacities of each pipe, you can start the drawing process.
9. Choose the layout of the flow and how the pipes align.
10. Once all the data has been added to the pipes, right-click and drag any pipe to move it. Similarly, click and drag any node to relocate it.
11. Save your chart with the desired format or dimensions.

Sankey charts can be used for a wide range of data analysis and visualization purposes, including:

1. Economic Analysis: Sankey charts can be used to visualize and compare the flow of goods and services between countries, regions, or industries. This can help policymakers make informed decisions about trade policies and investment.
2. Resource Allocation: An example of sankey charts in resource allocation would be a flow chart depicting how water and wastewater are distributed within a city. This can help city planners optimize infrastructure investments and improve water management.
3. Health Informatics: Sankey charts can aid in visualizing the flow of treatments and services within a healthcare system. It can help decision-makers track the volume and direction of treatments and resources within a hospital or healthcare center.

In conclusion, sankey charts are a powerful visual tool that can be used to visualize and analyze complex network data like never before. Whether you are a business analyst, social scientist, or researcher, it is important to understand the basic concepts and principles of sankey charts to make data-driven decisions. With the right tools and training, you can start visualizing and understanding complex networks in no time.

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.