Visualizing Flows with Sankey Charts: A Guide to Uncovering Insights in Your Data

Sankey charts are a popular data visualization tool that helps to represent flow data. The visual representation of data in a Sankey chart reveals patterns, trends, and even anomalies that can be difficult to discern from raw data or in conventional charts and graphs.

In this guide, we will delve into what Sankey charts are, how they work, and how you can use them to uncover insights from your data.

What is a Sankey Chart?

Sankey charts get their name from Captain Matthew Henry Phineas Riall Sankey, a 19th-century Irish Engineer working in the United States. Sankey charts are flow diagrams that depict the value of quantities over time. They have a unique appearance and typically show material, energy, or information flows between processes, systems, or any entities.

These diagrams are characterized by rectangles for sources, processes or activities, and flow streams that convey the quantity of flow from the source to the activities, often resembling pipes or hoses.

How Do Sankey Charts Work?

Sankey charts work by connecting the “flows” between different quantities or sources with colored lines or arcs, which also encode the size or importance of the flow. Each flow originates from a starting point, usually a rectangle labeled with the quantity it represents. This quantity could be people, dollars, information, energy, or anything that has a ‘source’ or ‘beginning,’ and it extends to various destinations.

The width of each flow is proportional to the value or quantity being transmitted, making it easy to spot the major components, relationships, and bottlenecks in the data flow. The use of color or gradient helps differentiate and visually emphasize the various flows and their characteristics.

Benefits of Using Sankey Charts

Sankey charts have numerous benefits for data analysis and communication:

1. Visual Clarity: They provide a clear visual representation of data flows that can be difficult to convey through traditional charts. This helps in spotting patterns and trends easily.
2. Relationship Visualization: They show the relationships and connections between different data points or entities, making it easier to understand the structure and flow within a dataset.
3. Quantifiable Insights: The visual weight of flows helps highlight the significance of individual flows or patterns, enabling quick comparison and identification of high and low flows.
4. Complex Data Simplification: Sankey diagrams can handle large datasets and complex relationships, simplifying the communication of data complexity to stakeholders.
5. Dynamic Visuals: With interactive visuals, users can explore different aspects of the data, enhancing the engagement and analysis process.

Creating Sankey Charts

Creating a Sankey chart can be done using various software and tools, including:

• General Spreadsheet Software: Tools like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets support the creation of Sankey charts through various templates and add-ins.
• Data Visualization Tools: Tools like Tableau, Power BI, and D3.js offer templates, drag-and-drop components, and code-based functionalities to generate Sankey diagrams.
• Specialized Software: Dedicated data visualization tools like Sankeyviz and Gephi offer specialized features and flexibility in creating Sankey diagrams.

Applications in Data Analysis and Beyond

Sankey charts find applications in diverse fields for analyzing complex flow patterns:

1. Energy and Resource Usage: They are used to show energy flow, showing how energy moves from its source to consumption points, capturing waste and distribution inefficiencies.
2. Economic Analysis: They help visualize economic flows like trade or GDP contributions by geographical regions, industries, or firms, assisting in strategic planning and policy-making.
3. Social Network Analysis: They model the flow of information, influence, or transaction between individuals or groups in social networks or web interactions.
4. Environmental Analysis: They illustrate pollution, waste, or resource movement patterns in ecosystems or pollution pathways leading to water or air.
5. Business Operations: They depict logistics networks, supply chains, or customer journey flows, aiding in operational efficiency and customer experience optimization.

Conclusion

Sankey charts are a powerful tool for visualizing complex data flows, providing insights that would be concealed in raw numbers or simple charts. Whether for financial analysis, industrial process flows, or social network behaviors, Sankey diagrams make data interpretation more accessible and intuitive. Incorporating Sankey charts in your data visualization toolkit can enhance your ability to uncover valuable insights and facilitate informed decision-making.

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.