Sankey charts are a powerful tool for mapping connections between ideas, concepts, and events. Created by British mathematician William Hamilton in 1849, they have been used in fields such as social science, history, economics, and more to represent complex relationships and trends. In this article, we will explore how to create and use Sankey charts to enhance understanding of complex concepts and connections.
What are Sankey Charts?
Sankey charts are a type of network diagram that visualizes the flow of a resource across a network. The chart is made up of multiple rows and columns, and each column represents a different type of resource, and each row represents a different connection between those resources. Connections are represented as lines, and the flow of resources in each column is depicted by the weight of the lines. This creates a graphical representation of the flow of resources and how they are connected.
Sankey charts are useful for visualizing interactions between different ideas or events, and for understanding these relationships in a more nuanced and compelling way than traditional network diagrams. They can be used to illustrate complex interconnectivity, such as the flow of ideas between different parts of a community, or the flow of money between different economic sectors.
How to Create a Sankey Chart
To create a Sankey chart, you will need to have a set of data to represent the connections between resources. This data can come from a variety of sources, such as surveys, interviews, or data collected in experiments or experiments. Once you have your data, you will need to organize it into a suitable format, which may include creating tables or generating a chart in a spreadsheet program.
Sankey charts can be created in a variety of software and hardware platforms, including Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, Adobe Illustrator, and custom software applications. Some examples of custom software applications that can be used to create Sankey charts include the Sankey chart software by Aetna, and the Sankey chart designer by Qlik Sense.
Sankey Chart Applications
Sankey charts have a wide range of applications in a variety of fields. They are used to visualize complex relationships and trends in a way that is more engaging and more accessible than traditional network diagrams, making them useful tools in a variety of research and analysis settings.
One of the most common applications of Sankey charts is in social science research, where they are used to investigate the flow of ideas between different members of a community. This can be used to understand how ideas circulate within a community, and how they are related to other social factors such as demographics or political affiliations. Sankey charts can also be used to visualize the flow of expertise across academic fields or the flow of money between different economic sectors.
Sankey charts can also be used to visualize the flow of information within an organization, such as the flow of reports or ideas from different departments. This type of chart can be particularly useful for understanding how information flows within an organization and where bottlenecks or areas of overlap exist.
Conclusion
Sankey charts are a powerful tool for mapping connections between ideas, concepts, and events. By providing a visual representation of complex relationships, they can help users to gain new insights and perspectives on a wide range of topics. While creating a Sankey chart may require some effort, the results can be highly valuable and insightful.
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.
