Introduction
In today’s world of data science and business intelligence, visual communication has become a critical tool for understanding and conveying complex information. Sankey charts are one such visual language that can help to unlock the power of data in a way that is both compelling and easy to understand. In this article, we will explore the basics of creating and using Sankey charts, and provide a few examples of their effective applications.
Creating a Sankey Chart
A Sankey chart is a type of flow diagram that uses nodes and links to illustrate the relationships between different elements in a system. The nodes stand for the elements, and the links represent the direction of their flow. For example, in a typical Sankey chart illustrating the flow of oil from a well deep in the earth to a refineries, the nodes would represent the various wells, and the links would connect them to the refineries. The chart would also include the direction of flow, so that the direction of oil flow would be visible. The nodes can be any shape, such as circles or triangles, as long as they are easily distinguishable from one another.
Here is an example of a simple Sankey chart created in Microsoft Excel:
Figure 1: Simple Sankey Chart
Applying Sankey Charts in Business Intelligence
Sankey charts are a particularly powerful way to communicate complex data relationships across different systems and stakeholders. They can help to explain data at a glance by breaking down complex systems into smaller parts and showing the relationships between them. For example, in a Sankey chart illustrating the supply chain of a company, the nodes would represent the different suppliers and manufacturers, and the links would represent the flow of goods between them. The chart would also include the amount of goods flowing, which allows the viewer to get a sense of the magnitude of the supply chain.
Sankey charts can also help to visualize data relationships between different systems or stakeholders. For example, in a social networking platform, the nodes would represent different users, and the links would represent the flow of shares, comments, and other actions between them. In addition, Sankey charts can help to explain the flow of information between different research institutions and libraries, or the flow of talent between different departments within an organization.
Here is an example of a more complex Sankey chart created in Microsoft Excel.
Figure 2: Complex Sankey Chart
Case Study: Using Sankey Charts to Analyze the Relationship between Renewable Energy and Grid Infrastructure
Let’s now take a look at how to create a Sankey chart to analyze the relationship between renewable energy sources and grid infrastructure.
As an example, let’s take a look at the case of wind and solar power. We will use this example to illustrate the steps involved in creating a Sankey chart.
- Identify the key components of the system: In this case, our system is the relationship between wind and solar energy, which is provided by two major sources: wind farms and solar panels. There will also be an interaction component, which is the relationship between wind turbines and cables connecting them to the distribution network
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SankeyMaster
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