A Guide to Unlocking the Visual Language of Sankey Charts
If you are the type of person who likes to visualise their data, then you will surely appreciate the magic that Sankey charts can do. These charts are a beautiful and compelling way to communicate complex information and data.
In this article, we will explore the magic behind Sankey charts and how they can be used to unlock the visual language of data analysis. We will take a closer look at the different components of a Sankey chart, how they work and how they are used, and some real-world examples of how they are applied in various industries.
The Magic of Sankey Charts
Sankey charts are a type of diagram that is commonly used in network analysis. They are a type of graphical representation of data that allows you to visualize the flow of information or data through a network. Sankey charts are also commonly used in the fields of engineering, economics, and social sciences to visualize complex systems and relationships.
Sankey charts are based on a few key components: nodes, links, and flow. The nodes represent the entities in the network, and the links are the connections between the nodes. Each link represents the flow of a certain type of data or information between the nodes. The flow can be positive or negative, depending on whether the data or information is flowing from one node to another.
Different from flowcharts, which are typically used for sequential tasks, Sankey charts are used to visualize complex network relationships, such as supplier and customer relationships, supply chain flows, supply and demand flows, economic networks, and transportation flows.
In the graphical representation of Sankey graphs, each node is displayed with an arrow showing the direction of the flow and the length of the arrow representing the flow rate. The length of the arrow represents the amount of the flow. The node itself doesn’t have any data or information on it; it’s purely an indication of the direction and amount of flow.
Sankey charts can also be used to highlight nodes or links that are more important than others. This can be achieved by using a different color scheme for the nodes and links.
The magic of Sankey charts is its ability to communicate complex data and relationships in a way that is easy to understand and visual.
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A Realistic Example
In real-life, Sankey charts are commonly used in a number of industries and organizations, such as supply chain management, energy production and distribution, transportation and logistics, and social sciences. They are used to visualize data in a more engaging and informative way than traditional data. For example, a Sankey chart can visualize the flow of product or goods from factories to warehouses, or from factories to customers. It can also be used to visualize the supply chain flow from suppliers to customers.
A real-world example of how Sankey charts can be used is that of the Dutch Windmap project. The project is a visualization of the wind turbine industry in the Netherlands, which was started by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs and Safety. The project was carried out by a team of researchers at Delft University of Technology, who used Sankey charts to visualize the supply chain flow between wind turbines and turbine parts suppliers. As a result, they were able to create a clearer picture of the industry’s supply chain flow, which is crucial for companies that source raw materials.
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The Flow of Information
As mentioned earlier, Sankey charts are commonly used to visualize the flow of information or data through a network. They are often used for the visualization of complex relationships between entities or data. One example of this is the flow of information within an organization. For example, the flow of communication between different departments, the flow of information between team members, the flow of information within the organization, etc.
Another example is in the field of agriculture, where it is commonly used for crop analysis. For example, by using a Sankey chart, one can visualize the flow of data related to rainfall, soil quality, agricultural practices, and other information, to provide an insight into how the weather and soil quality affect crop yields.
In addition, Sankey charts can also be used to visualize energy flows in a power grid. A power grid can be represented as a network, and the flows of energy can be represented as nodes and links. By using a Sankey chart, we can visualize the different sources of energy and the flow of energy through the power grid.
Real Use of Sankey Charts
In conclusion, Sankey charts are a powerful tool for data visualization in the fields of engineering, economics, and social sciences. They can help us visualize the complex and intricate relationships between entities and data. Sankey charts can be used for a wide range of purposes, such as the supply chain, agriculture, energy analysis, and many more. These charts are more effective, interactive, and intuitive when creating, sharing, and analyzing information and data.
References:

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*https://www.geogebra.org/activities/SankeyGraph/SankeyGraph.html
*https://www.geogebra.org/3d/00z32z1q5t
*https://www.geogebra.org/3d/w80708p6
It is important to note that Sankey Charts are not only used for visualization or for a single industry, they are used in a variety of fields such as engineering, economics, and social sciences. They help in communicating complex relationships between entities or data. Sankey Charts are an excellent tool for data visualization and analysis.

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